national - Lone Star Outdoor News
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national - Lone Star Outdoor News
Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper January 27, 2006 Volume 2, Issue 11 QUEST FOR QUAIL See Page 12 w w w. l o n e s t a r o u t d o o r n e w s . c o m World-class elk in Texas? INSIDE FISHING Trophy bull takedown sparks classification debate on state’s elk population By Mark England Low water levels and warmer temperatures have led baitfish inland to Texas rivers as they search for comfortable conditions. That’s great news for anglers, since redfish are following the bait. See Page 8 Ronnie Urbanczyk of Spring Branch shot a mammoth elk with a bow near Alpine in October — a potential world-class trophy topping an estimated 454 Boone and Crockett points — but don’t look for it in the record books. The Boone and Crockett Club does- n’t record elk taken from Texas, given their status as a non-game animal and lack of a hunting season. But even without the official recognition, the animal was impressive enough to spur Internet chat and guarantee the elk received celebrity status via photos e-mailed nationwide. Urbanczyk was at the sprawling CF Ranch, which covers more than 150 square miles of terrain ranging from rolling grassland to rocky hillsides, to hunt antelope when he saw some impressive elk. The ranch advertises its elk hunts starting at $7,000. “These guys at the ranch had a ton of good-looking elk,” said Urbanczyk, who owns Urban Concrete in San NEAR ALPINE: Ronnie Antonio. “We worked out a deal. Two Urbanczyk with his elk days later, I caught one going to a estimated at 454 B&C Youth-only hunts gain popularity Two major BassFan championships in 2006 will benefit the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, the organization has announced. BassFan said the events will continue the long charitable tradition associated with bass fishing. See Page 8 By Mark England T he youth-only hunting weekend Jan. 21-22 gave Kevin Curtis and his stepson, Tyler Deater, 13, what Curtis called a “high-five experience.” Tyler shot his first deer, a doe, on an Encinal ranch. “It was a ‘yes’ moment,” Curtis said. “It was like scoring a touchdown because it dropped right there.” The football analogies come easily to Curtis, who coaches freshman football at Schertz-Clemens High School outside San Antonio. Finding time to go hunting with Tyler, though, is another matter. Come fall, football is a 7-day-a-week business. That’s where the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s youthonly deer-hunting weekends — they’re held on one weekend in October and January — came to Curtis’ rescue. “It was something I came across on the Internet,” Curtis said. “He’s been trying for a deer the last three years. I was desperately trying to help him out.” Robert Macdonald, TPW’s regulations coordinator, said the idea of such weekends is to provide a “special time just for kids.” There are also youth-only weekends for hunting turkeys, squirrels and waterfowl. At such times, in most Texas counties, the only people who can legally hunt are those who are 16 or younger. “It’s a chance to focus on the kids, instead of everything that goes on in the general season,” Macdonald said. “It’s also an acknowledgement of where our future hunters will come from.” Jerry Warden calls such weekends, “true family time.” “It’s just them: the family and nature,” said Warden, executive director of the Texas Youth HUNTING Despite the drought conditions prevalent in Texas, entries in this year’s big buck contests are keeping pace with the entries from previous years — with as many as eight scoring more than 200 Boone and Crockett points. See Page 6 NATIONAL The closing of a U.S. Repeating Arms Company plant in New Haven, Conn., this spring means 186 people will lose their jobs and a famous Winchester deer-hunting rifle will be discontinued. See Page 4 CONSERVATION A grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will help restore the wetlands at Galveston’s North Deer Island, the largest rookery in the Galveston Bay system. Aiding in the project will be a coalition of conservation organizations. See Page 5 DEPARTMENTS Across the Nation Page 5 Migratory Bird Report Product Picks Page 7 Page 13 Heroes Page 14 Crossword Puzzle Page 15 Wild in the Kitchen Page 15 Weather Page 15 Game Warden Blotter Page 16 Outdoor Datebook Page 17 Fishing Report Page 18 See ELK, Page 11 (green score). YOUNG HUNTERS: Youth-only weekends in the outdoors, which surfaced almost 10 years ago, are often a weekend for first kills. Netters, drought haunt Falcon’s white bass fame By Diana Kunde Largemouth bass fishing isn’t the only hot topic at Falcon International Reservoir these days. Mention the lack of white bass — a situation that has drawn the attention of officials and made anglers mad enough to draw their weapons on net- ters — and you’ll get an earful. “I fish the lake pretty much every weekend,” says Kike Ramerez of Zapata. “They’re (white bass) not back at all.” TPW doesn’t stock lakes with white bass, which have historically been prolific in Texas — and helped make Falcon famous years ago. In a recent See FALCON, Page 11 See YOUTH, Page 10 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210 Largest International SPORTING EXPO in the South! Dallas Safari Club conveNtion & sporting expo January 27-29, 2006 • Dallas Market Hall MORE THAN 700 EXHIBITS! FEATURING: • The finest licensed guides & outfitters from around the world • Taxidermists • Custom firearms • • Custom knives • Wildlife artists • • Jewelers • Spectacular wildlife display • • Free informative seminars Saturday & Sunday • World-class banquets with celebrity guests, live entertainment and the finest live auctions in the south! • Produced by DALLAS SAFARI CLUB, 6390 LBJ Freeway, Suite 108, Dallas, TX 75240-6414 972-980-9800 • 1-800-9GO-HUNT • Fax: 972-980-9925 • www.biggame.org • E-mail: info@biggame.org Dallas Safari Club is and autonomous international nonprofit hunting, education and conservation organization serving the interests of wildlife, habitat, youth and sportsmen and sportswomen worldwide. Page 4 January 27, 2006 NATIONAL U.S. Winchester maker closes End of era for Model 70 and 94 rifles U.S. Repeating Arms Company announced it will cease operations March 31, ending a 140-year tradition of manufacturing firearms in New Haven, Conn. Winchester’s brief release characterized the closure as a “business decision” made after exhausting “all available options.” The decision puts 186 manufacturing employees out of work, and at this time brings to an end the Model 70 and 94 rifles and Model 1300 shotgun. Winchester Firearms will continue to offer the Select line of over and under shotguns, the Super X3 autoloading shotgun, their new Super X autoloading rifle and Limited Edition rifles. Further, the company stated it had plans to introduce “new models” in the future, with no changes in customer service. Winchester’s Scott Grange told The Outdoor Wire the decision “makes us ill that people lives and jobs are impacted.” But, he continued, 10 years of “trying to use all options to make the facility profitable” led the company’s board to decide to simply cease operations at the New Haven facility. “We’ve done all we can to make it work,” Grange said. “It was a purely financial decision. The board in Belgium (Herstal, purchasers of US RAC in 1987) just decided we couldn’t go down that path any longer.” Continuing to try and turn the facility around, Grange said, “would have led to greater financial heartbreak down the road.” While Winchester will continue to offer their firearms manufactured in Europe and Japan, the company says there are no plans to move manufacturing of the 94, 70 or 1300 anywhere else. Discontinued in 1963 and reintroduced in 1964, the Model 94, modeled after the Model 1894, is widely regarded as the rifle that symbolized the classic American firearms of the Old West. It still remains as one of the most famous deer-hunting rifles in American history. The Model 1300 pump shotgun was first introduced in 1978 and has gone through a variety of offerings. The future of the U.S. Repeating Arms facility in New Haven is unclear. Built in 1994, it is widely regarded as being among the most modern firearms manufacturing facilities in the world. Union officials have called on New Haven officials to “do something” to prevent the closure, but there appears little, if anything, the city could do to force Herstal to continue operations of an unsuccessful facility. The International Association of Machinists is almost a year into a three-year contract in which they agreed to several concessions in order to keep the company in New Haven. Workers said that after generations of families had worked at the facility, its shuttering “didn’t seem right.” A group of community activists and union members have already formed the Citizens Ad Hoc Committee, pushing the city to use legal options such as an injunction to postpone the closing, based on the fact the company will fail to live up to employment-level agreements tied to abatements granted to the company over the past ten years. New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. characterized the decision as “personal,” telling the New Haven Register the “gun that won the West is about to be made in the East (Asia).” Both Connecticut and New Haven have been subsidizing USRAC’s operations over the past 10 years. New Haven has subsidized $1.3 million in property taxes. — An Outdoor Wire report by Jim Shepherd, www.theoutdoorwire.com. BASS revamps Federation Nation In 2006 and beyond, BASS plans to grow Federation Nation membership at the state, national and international levels by improving communication and member service, offering more funding for conservation and more support for youth and education. BASS said the goal is to create a more rewarding experience for Federation Nation members. In this year alone, BASS will offer Federation Nation members benefits and exposure valued at nearly $4 million, including television and magazine exposure, conservation and youth programs and BASS Insider, a special membership level not offered before. In 2007, new BASS Club competitions will be held between Federation Nation six-angler BASS Club teams in each state. During the season, each state will send six BASS Club teams to one of 10 regional championships in the nation. The top six teams at each of the regional championships will move on to the new BASS Federation Nation BASS Club World Championship. The winning team receives a fully rigged Triton boat with Mercury Outboard for each member, for a value of $250,000. While the current BASS Federation tournament structure will remain intact this year, BASS will enhance the trail in 2007 by allowing all state and international Federations to qualify their champion for the BASS federation championship and will pay the travel expenses for each contender and his spouse. In addition to receiving highly coveted berths in the CITGO Bassmaster Classic, the six federation championship winners will also be awarded paid entry fees into their choice of either the CITGO Bassmaster Northern or Southern Tour. BASS will realign the divisional tournaments into 10 regions, allowing every Federation Nation club the opportunity to compete at a new level of competition that rewards club performance. Under this format, 200 percent more anglers from each state will compete, and they will do so in smaller fields, making higher-level competi- tion more affordable than ever before. “The Federation Nation will share a common bond, a common goal, a fraternal feel and a vested interest in growing the sport,” said Don Rucks, BASS vice president and general manager. Examples of what the Federation Nation also will have: •A Conservation College Scholarship Program, awarding $17,000 in scholarships annually •A minimum of $50,000 nationally to state chapters for conservation efforts annually •A Walt Disney World celebration for the two Junior BASSmaster world champions Ehanced member service will include: •Travel assistance for Federation Nation state champions and spouses to the BASS FederationNation Championship •Travel assistance for Junior World Championship contenders, equaling more than $100,000 commitment to Federation Nation families. — A BASS report ANSWERING THE CALL: Contestants do not know the turkey call they will be asked to mimic until they go before the judges. GIVE A YELP Turkey callers set to sound off, gobble up national honors at Nashville competion This year, the Wild Turkey Bourbon/National Wild Turkey Federation Grand National Calling Contest will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. The competition will be part of the NWTF's 30th annual Convention and Sport Show, Feb. 23-26. Past winners have appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with David Letterman" and "Live with Regis and Kelly." Contestants are asked to perform a plethora of calls — such as a hen's "yelp", or the "cut of an excited hen" — during the competition, but have no idea which sounds they'll be asked to mimic until they are on stage and in front of the judges. Judges are selected by the NWTF and are experts on wild turkeys and turkey calling. Contestants receive scores based on the accuracy of their calls. All Senior Division contestants are over age 21, and have won first place in an NWTF-sanctioned open, state or world division calling contest during the previous year. The top five finalists from last year's Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships are also eligible for the competition. The Senior Division preliminaries are slated to begin at 9 a.m. Feb. 24. New this year is the Senior Division Friction Competition. Competitors in this division will use friction-only calls to mimic the sounds of a hen turkey. The competition is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 23. There will also be a Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Gobbling Championship at 1 p.m. Feb. 25 where the contestants will be judged on their ability to imitate the gobble of a wild turkey. The Owl Hooting Championship will follow the gobbling championship as competitors perform their best impressions of a barred owl. Owl calls are often used to locate wild turkey toms. The Wild Turkey Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Team Challenge is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 26. The Rare Breed Champion of Champions competition directly follows. —A National Wild Turkey Federation report Need Insurance? EDITORIAL OFFICES: Get GOEN! 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: (214) 361-2276 Fax: (214) 368-0344 Editor: DARLENE MCC ORMICK SANCHEZ Layout Artist: DUDLEY GREEN Associate Editor: MARK ENGLAND Associate Editor: DAVID RENFROW Subscription Services: DEBORAH C OMER Founder & CEO: Boats, Home, Auto, Ranch, Life and Crop Insurance DAVID J. SAMS SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Order online via secure Web site at www.lonestaroutdoornews.com or call toll-free (866) 361-2276 ADVERTISING SERVICES: GOEN & GOEN INS 800-288-2865 w w w. g o e n - g o e n . c o m Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail advertising@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit. Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A subscription is $25 for 24 issues. Copyright 2005 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Printed in Dallas, TX, by Midway Press. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or e-mail them to readercare@lonestaroutdoornews.com. January 27, 2006 Page 5 CONSERVATION Grant targets Galveston Bay system’s North Deer Island The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a federal grant to Texas Parks and Wildlife to fund more than half of a $1.2 million project to restore wetlands on North Deer Island, the largest bird rookery island in the Galveston Bay system. The Texas grant was part of more than $15 million in grants to 12 states to help acquire, restore and protect coastal wetlands for longterm conservation benefits to wildlife and habitat under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. North Deer Island in West Galveston Bay is used each year by up to 30,000 breeding pairs of 19 species of coastal-dependent birds, including more than 1,000 nesting pairs of federally listed brown pelican. The North Deer Island project will protect and restore over 135 acres of fish and wildlife habitats. In Phase II to be funded by the federal grant, Texas Parks and Wildlife and project partners, will protect 82 acres of island habitat from erosion and restore eight acres of estuarine marsh. The total cost of the project is $1.24 million, with $653,300 of that paid by the federal grant. The partners share of the project will be $587,000. Project partners include the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Gulf of Mexico Program, USFWS Coastal Program, Texas Genco’s EcoCenter, Shell Marine Habitat Program and Houston Audubon. National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grants are awarded to states through a competitive process. The program is funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, with money generated from excise taxes on fishing equipment, and motorboat and small engine fuels. “These are win-win projects,” said Dale Hall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director. “I’m very excited when we’re able to leverage the taxpayer dollar with our partners and get a lot more value for the money.” — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report ACROSS THE NATION Florida College football player bags state’s 10th highest scoring buck Cody Thomas of Savannah, Ga., had no idea he would be harvesting Florida’s 10th-highest-scoring deer when he accepted an offer to go hunting with his girlfriend’s brother, but that is exactly what happened. Thomas took the trophy buck Nov. 20 on private land in Leon County at the beginning of the general gun season. He then anxiously awaited the official score of the buck’s antlers to come back from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to learn how his deer would stack up against the biggest deer ever taken in the state as listed in the Florida Buck Registry. The registry, established in 1982, provides an opportunity for hunters to register antler scores and other information about white-tailed deer taken in Florida. Idaho Wolves put a dent in elk herd The Idaho Fish and Game Commission, in a unanimous vote Jan. 13, approved a department proposal to remove up to 75 percent of the wolves in a portion of the Clearwater Region to help stabilize the elk population. Elk numbers in the Lolo elk management zone have been declining and are below management goals. Idaho Fish and Game biologists maintain that a significant part of the cause is wolf predation. Fish and Game biologists want to ask federal officials for permission to reduce wolf numbers in the Lolo zone, where they say wolves are having an unacceptable effect on cow elk survival. Fish and Game biologists want to reduce the number of wolves in the Lolo elk zone by 75 percent. That means up to 43 wolves would be removed, using the current mid-point wolf population estimate of 58. There are between 47 and 69 wolves in that area. Biologists then want to maintain the wolf population at 15-23 wolves for five years. During that time, they will monitor elk and wolf populations. After five years, the results of wolf removal on elk population trend would be assessed. Minnesota Got ice? Then get the download For all the Apple iPods, Dell DJs, Creative Zens and dozen or so other brands of portable audio players that were given as gifts this holiday season, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has just released a “podcast” called “Ice Fishing Tips.” “A podcast is similar to a radio show only instead of tuning it in on the radio, you download it from the DNR Web site to your computer and then transfer it to a player. That way you can listen to it on the go,” said Tim Smalley, DNR information officer and safety specialist. “They are called podcasts because of the popularity of Apple’s Ipod, but they can be played on anything that will play an MP3 audio file.” “Ice Fishing Tips” features a 30minute interview with Terry Tuma, Minnesota-based outdoor writer, fishing guru and angling instructor. This is believed to be the first-ever podcast on the topic. Oklahoma Guaranteed winning saugeye waiting for anglers at Lake Thunderbird One of the hardest parts about catching a state-record fish is knowing where to go fishing. That piece of the puzzle just got a whole lot easier — at least when it comes to big saugeye. Wildlife department fisheries biologists recently released two saugeye, weighing in at more than 10 pounds each, into Lake Thunderbird near Norman. The two big fish were collected and released during a research project examining the feeding habits of saugeye, bass and crappie. The current state record saugeye, a 9-pound, 14-ounce fish, was caught from Lake Thunderbird in 1992. According to a state biologist, the saugeye stocking program at Lake Thunderbird has been very successful. “We first stocked saugeye in Lake Thunderbird in 1985 for two reasons: first, to provide an additional fishing opportunity and second, to help control the over-populated crappie,” Jeff Boxrucker said. Saugeye are a hybrid fish produced at the department’s Byron Fish Hatchery in northcentral Oklahoma. Hatchery biologists collect native sauger from the Arkansas River in northeast Oklahoma and walleye from Canton Lake in northwest Oklahoma and then cross the two species to produce saugeye. Page 6 January 27, 2006 HUNTING Clothes make the Huntress Designer debuts attire targeting the outdoors woman By Mary Helen Aguirre S helah Zmigrosky, CEO of Frisco-based Foxy Huntress LLC, wants female hunters to feel they’re dressed to kill in more ways than one. At a launch party in Dallas Jan. 13, the designer debuted her Foxy Huntress line, a collection of stylish hunting attire designed to fit the natural curves and body types of all women. “Women hunters want to be comfortable while they hunt. They want clothes that fit their female form, clothes that don’t sag or interfere with shooting their weapons,” said Zmigrosky, who said there are more than 6 million women in the U.S. involved in shooting and outdoor sports. What Zmigrosky wanted was great-looking clothing that can go from the field to the hunting lodge. But she emphasized that she hasn’t sacrificed function for style. Her version of the ubiquitous oversized orange hunting vest, for example, is a bright orange quilted vest lined with an exotic animal print that subtly skims the curves of a woman’s body. Some of Zmigrosky’s pieces feature an exclusive signature camouflage pattern she designed especially for her new line. “I just wanted something a little more feminine,” she said. Among her favorite items: •An upland bird-hunting ensemble made from soft-brushed cotton that features a sage and brown vest ($98) and matching pants ($95) paired with a camouflage shirt ($100). •A sand-colored quilted jacket with a leopard-print lining and brown leather trim ($195) paired with classic riding pants ($105). Monica Keasler, store manager of the Dallas Orvis, was at Friday’s launch party. “I liked it a lot,” she said of the Foxy Huntress line. “I recently OPENING IN FASHION: A runway model shows off some of the fashions for the new line of women’s hunting apparel by Foxy Huntress at the Crescent Court Hotel in Dallas. Photo by David J. Sams. took a trip to Africa and I wish I’d had some of those pieces.” Keasler, who had the chance to try on some of the attire, also appreciated the fit and comfort of the clothing. It was the scarcity of well-fitting hunting gear that inspired Zmigrosky to start designing. The novice hunter said that when she planned her first African safari a couple of years ago, she went on the hunt for suitable attire. But the clothing she found targeted toward women were cut down from men’s sizes and didn’t take into account a woman’s curves. What she did find, she had to get tailored to better fit her. Zmigrosky has a medical background and had never designed a clothing line before Foxy Huntress. She just went with her instincts and what she liked. She aimed for great-looking and hardworking pieces that functioned well and provided great comfort. Zmigrosky said she’d love to bring back the good old days when people didn’t wear jeans to hunt. But you don’t have to hunt to be a Foxy Huntress, said Zmigrosky. She said her line targets women who appreciate the look and attitude of the collection. For the future, she’s working on adding accessories, such as jewelry, belts and leather goods. She’s also working with her fabric manufacturer to design an even more durable 100-percent cotton camouflage fabric. To view her collection, visit www.foxyhuntress.com. Mary Helen Aguirre is a native Texan with almost 15 years of experience editing and writing for newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is a free-lancer in New Mexico. Hanging with the big bucks You’ve got to beat 200 B&C points to stay in this hunt By Wes Smalling With drought conditions afflicting much of the Texas Brush Country, you might assume that the entries in this year’s big buck contests are a bit on the puny side. Think again. As entry deadlines draw near, most of the contests are on pace to finish with as many entries as in previous years and with just as many 200-plus Boone and Crocket-point bucks. “We’ve got seven or eight deer over 200 total (B&C points),” said Stephen Mabery, owner of Los Cazadores Hunting Headquarters and Deer Contest in Pearsall. “It is surprising for the type of drought we’ve had. We’ve had ranches down there in the south that haven’t had any rain since April — not a drop. I can’t describe it. We’ve sure had a bunch (of big deer). I thought we’d have nothing but it’s been surprisingly good.” Los Cazadores’ current leader in the low-fence category is Larry Wilkey of Baytown, whose unusually racked whitetail would be the overall leader in any contest in the state so far. Wilkey’s triple-beam buck, which he shot on a rifle hunt on a ranch in Zavala County, scored 238 B&C points. Larry Wilkey’s triple-beam buck, which he shot on a rifle hunt on a ranch in Zavala County, scored 238 B&C points. Marty Griffith on the Peeler Ranch south of San Antonio. Griffith’s big buck scored 222 7/8 B&C points. Jack Brittingham of Athens killed his 229 2/8 B&C-point deer on the Briar Lakes Ranch in Anderson County. The deer was an estimated 8 1/2 years old. Though small-bodied at about 130 pounds field-dressed, its rack has an astounding 28 antler points. “We joked around and said it looks like he had a bad hair day. He had points every place,” Wilkey said. Wilkey had watched the deer through a spotting scope on a foggy morning a few days earlier but, because of its smallish body, had passed on it thinking it might be too young. He shot a video of it instead. After watching the video, he decided it was definitely an older buck. “I didn’t see him for two or three days, but the next foggy day he reappeared in that same area and that’s when I shot him.” Wilkey said. “I knew it was an unusual deer but I didn’t have any idea it would score like that.” The second-highest scoring lowfence buck and the fourth highest score overall of any deer contests in the state — was taken by Marty Griffith at the Macho Creek Lodge on the Peeler Ranch south of San Antonio in October. Griffith’s big buck scored 222 7/8 B&C points. It field-dressed at about 160 pounds and has 17 antler points. Griffith had seen the same buck the season before and had passed See BIG BUCKS, Page 10 January 27, 2006 Page 7 Targeting turkey Judging distance key to hunting success this spring By Bob Hood Chad Miller knows what it is like to miss a turkey, but he also says he knows how to remedy the chances of it happening again. Miller, who has hunted on the same Comanche County ranch for the past eight years, says he never will forget pulling the trigger on a big gobbler that was only 15 yards away five years ago only to see the big bird jump sideways and then turn and run away. “I thought he was more like 20 or 25 yards away, and I guess my pattern was so tight that I just shot over him,” Miller said. Now on most mornings when Miller goes turkey hunting, he uses a decoy. He finds a place where he is going to sit and then steps off 20 yards and places his decoy at that distance. Next, he finds two sticks and places them 10 yards behind the decoy, one to the right and the other to the left. He also places another stick or rock 20 yards behind him. “That way I am covered whether the turkey comes in straight ahead or to the left or right or behind me Miller said. It give me a 20- to 30-yard zone and I’ll know if he is inside either yardage or further away.” Of all the reasons for missed shots, the hunter’s failure to judge the distance to the target likely is the most common, according to Bob Keck of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Hunters should practice judging A VIEW TO A KILL: Hunters should practice judging distance just as they would patterning their shotgun prior to the season. distance just as they would patterning their shotgun prior to the season. Although some hunters, such as those who hunt extensively with archery equipment, are skilled at determining distances, the methods used by Miller and others could help less skilled hunters judge distances more accurately. Range finders are handy and very accurate for determining distances but should be practiced Migratory Bird Hunting Report HIGH PLAINS MALLARD MANAGEMENT UNIT / PANHANDLE: The region still needs rain. Most geese are roosting on Lake Etter near Dumas. Decoying action slowed this week; however, those willing to stay late in the field did scratch out limits of dark geese and a few light geese. Duck hunting for mallards continued steady for those able to access wet playas. Duck hunting has been better in Haskell County. Duck season ends at sunset Jan.29. Goose season continues through Feb.7. The Light Goose Conservation Order season begins Feb.8. With lots of juvenile snows on the ground, the season should be prosperous. Prospects are good. NORTH ZONE WATERFOWL: Sunday, Jan.29 draws to a close what many are considering the driest waterfowl season in years for North Texas. Sloughs and timber ponds have been dry throughout the season and most waterfowlers have had to resort to hunting big water on lakes and reservoirs. The region did receive rain over the weekend which will provide some water for established ponds for the last week of the season. Leveed ponds near Interstate 10 received rain over the weekend to help sustain hunting for another week. Those ponds might prove prosperous when the Light Goose Conservation Order begins Jan.30. Prospects are fair. SOUTH ZONE WATERFOWL: A bit of a surprise to many duck hunters this week was the influx of blue-winged teal that moved across the coastal prairie and coastal marsh. The bonus is most of the drakes are in their cobalt-headed spring plumage, perfect for a mount. Waterfowlers have expressed delight in the later closer of the season. Normally, the second weekend of January is the traditional closure of duck season. Mallards continue to be the highlight of duck hunts on the prairie. Another shot of rain this week helped ponds sustain water for the last week of duck season, which ends at sunset Jan.29. Pintails are very good in Rockport and Port O’Connor. Some canvasbacks have been showing in the freshwater marsh near Copano Bay. Bluebills and gadwalls have been showing on Trinity Bay straps. Green-winged teal are good in the Anahuac and High Island marsh. Snow geese continue to feed on green forbs in fallow fields or winter wheat fields. The Canada geese that were on the prairie in early January have relocated. The Light Goose Conservaton Order begins Jan.30. With many juveniles in the light goose flock, prospects are good for the liberal season. Open season DUCK High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Oct. 28- Jan. 29 North and South Zones: Dec. 10- Jan. 29 Pintail and Canvasback (All Zones) Dec. 22- Jan. 29 GOOSE West Zone: Light and Dark Geese, Nov. 5Feb. 7 Light geese conservation order, Feb. 8March 26. East Zone: Light Geese, Nov. 5- Jan. 29 Canada Goose Nov. 5- Jan. 29 Light geese conservation order, Jan. 30March 6. SANDHILL CRANE Zone A: Nov. 5- Feb. 5 Zone B: Nov .26-Feb. 5 Zone C: Dec. 24- Jan. 29 QUAIL Statewide: Oct. 29- Feb. 26 WHITE-TAILED DEER South Texas: Late antlerless and spiked Jan. 16- 29 Edwards Plateau: Late antlerless and spiked Jan. 16- 29 RIO GRANDE TURKEY Willacy, Brooks, Kenedy & Kleberg counties: Nov. 5- Feb. 26 PHEASANT Chambers, Jefferson and Liberty counties: Oct. 29- Feb. 26 JAVELINA Oct. 1- Feb. 26 with at home or in the field before the opening of the season, not the first time out when hunting, for example. Trees, rocks, stumps and fence posts can be checked with the range finder for their distances, but you should make several practice sessions so you are comfortable looking through the range finder under various light conditions. If you want to have fun while improving your range skills, ask a hunting partner to join you. Two hunting partners can have fun and sharpen their skills by using a turkey decoy to estimate distance. One hunter can sit on the ground while the other hunter places the decoy at an unknown distance and then the two can take turns estimating the range before actually stepping it off. Placing the decoy behind brush, up or down a slight grade, in deep shadows and bright sun- light will help improve range estimation dramatically. Regardless how you go about it, judging distances will help ensure a clean kill. Just remember as Miller does, when you are in the woods a few yards can make a big difference. Bob Hood is an outdoor writer for the Fort Worth Star Telegram and a frequent contributor to Lone Star Outdoor News. Information from the National Wild Turkey Federation contributed to this report. Page 8 January 27, 2006 FISHING Redfish action hot along the upper Texas rivers By Scott Sommerlatte ith several weeks of winter still ahead, Texas coastal anglers should look no further than the rivers of the upper Texas coast for some hot trout and redfish action. Since Thanksgiving, anglers have been reporting tremendous catches of both trout and redfish from the Brazos, San Bernard and Colorado rivers. And, while many anglers enjoy consistent success fishing the rivers from year to year, this year has proven to be better than most. “Despite it not getting that cold this winter, fishing in the river has been extremely good,” said Capt. Bill Pustejovsky of fishing in the Colorado River. “The low tides and drought conditions have made conditions right and the trout and reds are thick.” The low tides are actually low-water levels created by the consistent westerly direction of the winds this winter. These low-water levels have caused a lot of fish to leave the bays in favor of the deeper waters of the rivers. Once in the rivers, the fish start following the bait as it migrates up river in search of fresh water. However, because of the drought that Texas is experiencing right now, the baitfish are having to travel great distances up river to find comfortable conditions, which is drawing the trout and reds as far as 15 and 20 miles inland. The key to locating the fish, which move around daily, is to locate the bait. Baitfish may be found on the shallow edges of the warming riverbank over oyster or gravel one day, and the next, they might be around structures such as barnacle- and oyster-covered docks or bridge pilings. Another possibility is that they could be balled on the surface in the middle of the river with fish underneath. On the warmer days, it is also possible to occasionally locate birds working over fish. The fish and birds are feeding on white shrimp that have come up out of the mud W VICTORY: Brent Chapman celebrates win at the Top Gun tournament. Photo by BassFan. Top bass anglers hook up for charity Money from BassFan’s 2006 Top Gun Championship and 2006 Skeeter BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship will benefit Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, BassFan announced this month. BassFan added that the fundraiser will be the largest charity event in championship bass fishing history. Launched last year, Top Gun features the top-ranked professional bass fishermen in the world, and Weekend Warrior features the top-performing weekend bass fishermen from North America’s best regional trails. Both championships join the Stampede Season lineup of charitable events, which includes: the Interstate Batteries Texas Stampede rodeo and concert weekend; Texas State Championship Bar-B-Que Cook-off and Texas Music Festival; La Riata Gala and Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament; Children’s Medical Center Christmas Stampede; and the Pace Picante Cattle Drive. “BassFan feels strongly about continuing the charitable tradition that has long been an integral part of bass fishing,” said Scot Laney, BassFan’s chief operating officer. “Bass anglers and tournament organizations at all levels are supporting good causes throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe, and we certainly want to do our part. “Partnering with Texas Stampede to produce an annual event to benefit Children’s Medical Center is a perfect fit because Texas Stampede has a long history of doing good work in support of children in north Texas.” Joel T. Williams III, president of Texas Stampede, said, “We’re excited about this partnership. We wanted to add a bass fishing tournament component to Stampede Season and are thrilled that it ended up being not one, but two of the major championships in the sport. “BassFan shares our mission to raise substantial funds annually for Children’s Medical Center, and is committed to building a signature event in North Texas.” In order to be a part of the fall Stampede Season, the Skeeter Weekend Warrior Championship will take place Sept. 15-18, followed by the Top Gun Championship Sept. 19-23. BassFan has not yet released lake locations for the 2006 tournaments. Texas Stampede is a nonprofit organization that seeks to raise substantial funds for Children’s Medical Center, one of the top 25 pediatric hospitals in the nation as recognized by U.S.News & World Report, by organizing and conducting a variety of unique family events that are part of Stampede Season each fall in Dallas. Since its inception in 2001, the organization has contributed more than $2.5 million for pediatric programs associated with Children’s Medical Center. For more information on Texas Stampede, visit www.texasstampede.org. BassFan, the leading global bass fishing news source, is a media company that owns several bass fishing media properties (BassFan.com, BassFanArmy.com, BassFan Radio, BassFan MAG magazine, BassFan TV), a membership program (the Skeeter BassFan Army) and two events (the Top Gun Championship and the Skeeter BassFan Army Weekend Warrior Championship). — A BassFan report, wwwbassfan.com UP THE RIVER: Anglers are reporting tremendous catches of redfish and trout from the Brazos, San Bernard and Colorado rivers. to enjoy the warming conditions. Once the bait is located, anglers should use a trolling motor to cover the area with plastic bait-tails rigged on 1/4 oz. jig heads, deep-water plugs such as the Mirro-lure 52MR series, or crank baits. The lures should be worked thoroughly throughout the water column at different speeds and depths to find what works and establish a pattern. Once a pattern is detected and established, move from different groups of bait, apply the same techniques and experience a great catch for yourself. Carp groups bringing Challenge to Texas By Todd Nafe It’s hard to understand a lot of people when they talk about carp fishing because their tongues are planted so deeply in their cheeks that their speech is almost unintelligible. But there’s a growing movement that hails the hearty carp as a tournament-worthy fish, and that movement is making its way to Texas this spring. The American Carp Society and the Carp Anglers Group are hosting the Texas Carp Challenge in Austin March 26-31. This firsttime event will offer a chance for a $250,000 cash prize should the Texas state record for carp be broken during the tournament. The tournament will be held on Town Lake, which yielded the current state record carp at 41.5 pounds, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. That kind of money is no joke. There’s also the “Big Four” bonus cash prize of $25,000 that could be awarded to the contestant who brings in the four largest fish with a total weigh greater than 130 pounds combined during the event. The Austin Team Championship, which will be held the week before the Texas Carp Challenge, will offer anglers a chance to get the competitive juices flowing as well as to gain familiarity with the carp bite on Town Lake. The tournaments are likely to attract national and international competitors. According to Carp Anglers Group member Mark Villanova, Town Lake is the Mecca of carp fishing. “It’s one of the only lakes in the United States to consistently produce 40-pound fish,” he said. Among the goals of the Carp Anglers Group is promoting acceptance of the carp as an exciting and challenging sportfish. In Europe and CARP CATCH: Sean Manning and Wayne Boon show two carp they caught on Town Lake in Austin. They are directors of the American Carp Society. Photo by Sean Manning. other parts of the world, carp are valued for their strength and treated as sportfish. Villanova sees signs that Americans are gaining an appreciation for the fish, too. “Carp fishing in the U.S. is exploding,” he said. “I compare it to the first bass anglers to compete in tournaments. They had no idea what they were starting, but we have a better idea from watching bass fishing mature into a competitive sport.” Carp fishing sponsorships are emerging and even carp fishing video games are beginning to show up on the market. But most carp anglers, Villanova says, aren’t in it for the money. Rather, do what they do for the thrill of catching these powerful fish. While there are some commercial carp baits on the market, the majority of carp fishermen prefer their own dough bait recipes. Mark Terry, who co-captained the championship team in last summer’s Lake Waco Carp Tournament, said his bait consisted of Big Red soda, bran flakes, dissolved range cubes and an extra twist of vanilla. The Texas Carp Challenge entry fee is $250 per angler until Feb. 28. After that, it’s $275 and the deadline to enter is March 20. Entry fee for the Austin Team Championship is $120 per two-person team, and the registration deadline is March 15. The tournament is limited to bank fishing only. Entrants will receive commemorative pins and Bank Buddy rod holders in addition to the chance at pocketing the top prize money. For rules and more information on the tournaments, visit www.americancarpsociety. com or www.carpanglersgroup.com. Todd Nafe is the outdoor writer for the Waco Tribune-Herald and can be reached at www.centexoutdoors.com. January 27, 2006 Page 9 Flat Out event offers Redfish Cup top pro staff award goes to Texas Tackle Factory teams tips to coastal anglers The votes are in and the Redfish Nation has spoken: The Texas Tackle Factory staff has won the 2005 Cuppy Award for Pro Staff of the Year. The staff comprises three teams: Charlie Barton from Port Lavaca, Texas, and Jack Barton from Laguna Vista, Texas; Sam Arcure Jr. from Ft. Myers, Fla., and Keith Rainwater from Victoria, Texas; and Brandon Jenewein and Mike Condit from Bay City, Texas. “Winning a Cuppy is huge. This really gives us some credibility and provides us with some momentum going into 2006,” exclaims Keith Rainwater, president and owner of the Texas Tackle Factory. “To be nominated was an honor, and to win the Cuppy is very humbling and feels great.” The Texas Tackle Factory pro staff was new to the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup in 2006 and only three of the staff’s anglers had competed in previous Cup tournaments. This year’s Redfish Cup’s first two stops will be in Florida at Clearwater, April 6-8 and Punta Gorda, May 11-13. Then the Cup tackles the Lone Star State with events in Kemah, June 8-10 and Port Aransas, Aug. 17-19. The wrap-up will be held in Cajun Country in New Orleans, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. — A Redfish Nation report CUPPY WINNERS: The staff of Texas Tackle Factory, which consists of three teams made of six anglers, were named top pros of the year by Redfish Nation. Photo by David J. Sams. Texas Parks and Wildlife will offer a daylong event for Coastal Bend anglers eager to sharpen their fishing skills. The third annual Flat Out Fishing event kicks off 8 a.m. Jan. 28 at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi. The event will be held at the university’s Science and Technology Building in room 104. The event includes seminars and presentations from noted guides and experts and covers everything from the life histories of popular sport fish to fishing the flats and landing trophy trout. “Flat Out Fishing offers anyone from beginning to experienced fishermen a variety of opportunities to increase their knowledge of the sport,” said TPW Coastal Fisheries Outreach Specialist Art Morris. Morris added that the event benefits the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s abandoned crab trap removal program fund. That program has removed more than 18,000 abandoned crab traps from coastal waters since 2002. Flat Out Fishing begins with a boating safety presentation and continues through 5 p.m. with the conclusion of “Lefty Ray” Chapa’s photography seminar. Participants will be eligible for door prizes and “goody bags.” The cost is $20 per person or $30 per couple, payable by cash, check or money order at the door. Registration fees are taxdeductible. Children under 17 may attend free. Seating is limited to the first 100 participants. To register, contact Art Morris at (361) 825-3356 or by e-mail at art.morris@tpwd.state. tx.us. Anheuser-Busch, Coastal Conservation Association Texas, the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau, Daiichi, Saltwater Conservation Association Texas and the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program sponsor flat Out Fishing. — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report Nominations sought for Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame Individuals or organizations that have made a lasting contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas may be nominated through Feb. 25 for induction into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. Nominees may be anglers, fisheries professionals or organizations. The nominee must be a Texan or Texas organization. Individuals may be either living or deceased. One nominee will be chosen by an independent selection committee and formally inducted during the annual Hall of Fame banquet May 27 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Prior inductees include Floyd Mabry, Jackie Hewlett, R.D. Hull, Bob Kemp, Nick Crème, Charlie Inman, Sugar Ferris, Leonard Ranne, Earl Golding, Kathy Magers, the Sabine River Authority, Skeeter Boats, Michael (“Shorty”) Powers and Ray Murski. Nomination forms and instructions are available on Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Web site at h t t p : / / w w w. t p w d . st a t e . tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/vi sit/virtualtour/halloffame/nominate.phtml or by calling (903) 670-2228. — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report Offshore – 8 to 12 hours for up to 6 people. Prices start at $900.00 Bay – Half-day trips starting at $350.00 Full-day trips starting at $450.00 All-inclusive trips available; please call for details Other packages available: Whitetail, Mule Deer and Spring Turkey. Hunting packages include all meals, lodging, guides, care of game and airport pickup (if applicable; please call for details) For more information, please contact Bucky and Leesa Bonner at P.O. Box 460 Port Aransas, TX 78373 B&B OUTFITTERS - 800.460.1843 WWW.BBOUTFITTERS.COM Lake Amis Amisttad — fished b byy the bes bestt . . . and the bes bestt will be fishin g. fishing. Make Plans To Come Support Your Favorite Fisherman at one of the upcoming tournaments on Lake Amistad. 2006 Bass Champs — January 20-22 Texas Tournament Trails — February 3-5 FLW Stern Series — February 22-25 Texas Federation of B.A.S.S. — February 26 - March 3 ESPN - Battle on the Border — March 9-12 Academy Sports & Outdoors presents the 2006 PRO & AMATEUR TEAM DIVISIONS PRO DIVISION pays 10 places with $12,500 cash paid for 1st Place AMATEUR DIVISION, $150 Entry Fee, pays $4,000 cash, based on 80 boats TEAM OF YEAR (PRO & AMATEUR) wins boat, motor & trailer package. Lubricant For Information Contact The Del Rio Chamber of Commerce 1-800-889-8149 — www.drchamber.com 2006 TOURNAMENTS May 13 & 14 • Matagorda Russell Bait & Tackle (formerly Skippers) • 979-863-7620 April 1 & 2 • Rockport Lighthouse Inn • 888-790-VIEW April 29 & 30 • Galveston Nasa Clear Lake Hilton 281-333-9300 Gulf Coast Troutmasters Association • 7449 Wright Rd • Houston TX • 713-466-STIX (7849) www.americanrodsmiths.com • jake@flex.net Page 10 January 27, 2006 Youth Continued from Page 1 YOUTHFUL WEEKEND: Youth-only deer-hunting weekends are held on one weekend in October and January. Hunting Program, a joint venture of TPW and the Texas Wildlife Association. “The bonding people talk about really does take place in the woods.” Youth-only hunting had its critics, however, when it started in Texas almost 10 years ago. Macdonald said most criticism related to the early season hunt. “Some people complained that it would stir up deer prior to the beginning of the open season,” he said. “Others said that daddy would get a jump on everyone. Take junior out and daddy shoots the big buck. I don‘t think that’s turned out to be a big problem.” The program’s most recent weekend also produced a few new critics. Diane Ganter of Garland, like Tyler, hoped to shoot her first deer. She had gone to two previous youth-only weekends. On the first one, she shot a hog. The second time, Diane had the misfortune to go hunting when temperatures were in the 80s. “We didn’t see anything,” said her father, Paul. “It was too bad, but it wasn’t anybody’s fault. This was going to be her last shot.” When they arrived at the Storm Ranch in the Hill Country, after a 5hour drive, the Ganters were told that Diane could not hunt whitetails. She’s 17. The Ganters didn’t realize the age limit, and hunt organizers failed to note Diane’s age, despite her previous involve- ‘I want to get like an 8- to 10-point buck. Because that way I can mount it on the wall, like my dad’s deer.’ — TYLER DEATER ment in youth-only hunts. A 17year-old boy also was not allowed to hunt deer. “The communication was terrible,” Diane said. “I know they have volunteers, but if they don’t get things straight, they screw up not only the kid’s weekend, but, also, their parents’.” Still, she recalls her first two youth-only hunting weekends fondly. “It was great even when I didn’t shoot anything,” Diane said. “In the city, it’s hard to get out. Whether you’re hog hunting or deer hunting, watching wildlife is fun — but it’s a little more exciting to shoot.” The experience of Curtis and Tyler was more what organizers envisioned when they created youth-only hunting weekends. To Curtis, such a program is invaluable. Tyler has Asperger’s Syndrome, a milder form of Autism. “Part of the weekend was to help socialize him, let him be around other kids,” Curtis said. “See how they act, how they interact. It was a great time, a wonderful experience for him.” Here’s how Tyler puts it. “I like it when people my age are out there,” he said. “It’s more fun. After the hunt, you get to tell your stories, what you experienced, what you saw and all that.” He’s already looking forward to his next youth-only hunt, Tyler said. “I want to get like an 8- to 10point buck,” he said. “Because that way I can mount it on the wall, like my dad’s deer. I want one on the wall, too.” Mark England is associate editor of Lone Star Outdoor News. Big bucks Continued from Page 6 on it, estimating it to be about 170 B&C points at the time. “Then we found its sheds in the spring and it turned out to be 190 (B&C) points,” Griffith said from his home in Houston. “I probably would’ve shot him last year. You usually don’t let a 190 get away. He ended up a 223. That’s about a 16percent increase in a year. That’s pretty good.” Griffith shot the buck from a tree stand as it came in to a feeder. Griffith’s low-fence buck is currently the overall leader in the Exotic Wildlife Association Big Buck Contest and in the state-run Texas ‘You usually don’t let a 190 get away. He ended up a 223. That’s about a 16-percent increase in a year.’ — MARTY GRIFFITH Big Game Awards. The second- and third-highest scoring bucks overall are the two current high-fence leaders in the Los Cazadores Deer Contest. Jack Brittingham of Athens killed his 229 2/8 B&C-point deer on the Briar Lakes Ranch in Anderson County. Just behind Brittingham is Mark Gray of Houston, whose deer scored 227 5/8 B&C points. Gray bagged his big buck on the Bear Branch Ranch in Callahan County. Another high-fence leader in several contests is Bill Glendening of Horseshoe Bay. Among the different scorers of the four contests Glendening’s deer is entered in, his big buck tallied between 214 4/8 and 217 4/8 B&C points. Glendening shot the 20point buck on the Shiner Ranch in Frio County. He currently leads Laredo’s Cola Blanca Big Buck Contest, the Los Cuernos de Tejas Big Game Contest in Carrizo Springs, Dilley’s El Monstruo del Monte Big Buck Contest and the Texas Gulf Coast Deer Contest. Final results for most of this year’s big buck contests will be released by the end of January. The Texas Big Game Awards has an entry deadline of March 15. Wes Smalling is the former outdoors editor for the Santa Fe New Mexican and has more than a decade of experience as a writer and reporter. January 27, 2006 Page 11 Falcon Continued from Page 1 effort, TPW recruited local fishermen to catch whites in Choke Canyon and use those breeders to restock Falcon. That effort hasn’t yet had a visible impact on the white bass population — and some people blame illegal netting. What anglers and Texas wildlife officials agree on is that the combination of a decadelong drought and gill netting decimated the population of white bass that were once a prime attraction for winter residents — or “snowbirds” — who benefited the lakeshore economy. What they don’t always agree on is what to do about the problem, which is intensified by the fact that jurisdiction of the 83,654-acre lake is shared between Texas and Mexico. The last time white bass showed up on Texas Park and Wildlife surveys of the lake was in 1995, also the first drought year, said Randy Myers, fisheries biologist with TPW in San Antonio. The drought ended about late 2003. Local lore says that gill-netters made big hauls when the lake levels first went down, Myers said. Whites, or sandies, are particularly vulnerable to nets because they travel in schools, unlike the predatory largemouth bass. Illegal netting remains a problem. “You actually can run into them (nets) in your boat. They get tangled up in your lower unit,” Ramerez said. He added that there’s money to be made through illegal netting because the fish can be sold at markets. Texas game wardens put several commercial fishermen from Mexico in jail, seized a couple of boats and “between 15,000 and 20,000 feet of net” in the month that started in midDecember, said Wayne Schwartz, a game warden stationed in Stark County. Zapata County — which had lost its threewarden allocation due to attrition and injury — will get two new wardens this month, Schwartz said. A third, recovering from a gunshot wound, will return by April, he said. Schwartz said he’s concerned about reports that anglers have drawn weapons on suspected illegal netters. “Leave law enforcement to the law enforcement agencies,” he said. “I realize how people get emotional about fishing, but I don’t see dying over it.” On the supply side, Myers plans a creel survey on Falcon, starting Jan. 28-29, interviewing returning anglers about their catch. “We’ll be sitting at one of two boat ramps (the state park and Zapata County ramps) 20 times, for six hours each.” He plans a March net survey for white bass and crappie as well. From that data, he will develop a management plan for the Falcon fishery and present it to the TPW Commission. “At that time, we can recommend stocking, harvest regulation changes, whatever is in our power to recommend through this office,” he said. In the meantime, local residents like Zapata Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Peggy Umphres-Moffett aren’t standing still. “Our goal is to revive the lake back to where it’s always been,” she said. “White bass was one of the best things about Falcon. We’re working with our state rep and TPW to start some restocking efforts.” “White bass can recover very quickly when conditions are right,” said Phil Durocher, inland fisheries division director for TPW. “And the conditions right now should be pretty favorable.” Umphres-Moffett wants more. “We’d like to propose that we have a farm here for white bass,” she said. “What better solution?” Her Falcon Lake Development Committee is also contacting federal officials, including U.S. Rep Henry Cuellar, in an effort to help restore the lake. “We’re working with our legislators and our friends across the border so that we can get something moving,” she said. Within the last month, she started talks with the mayor of Guerrero, Mexico. ”They’re excited to work with us, and I really think we’ll make great strides,” she said. Robert Amaya, fishing guide and owner of Robert’s Fish & Tackle in Zapata, said the fishing is great for largemouth. With time and some stocking, the whites could follow, he said. “I’m beginning to see some seagulls acting like white bass have been here, but I haven’t heard any reports,” he said. “I think they’ll come back — but it’ll take three or four years.” Diana Kunde is a free-lancer based in Arlington, dikunde@sbcglobal. net. the mountain states. Not many know these free-ranging elk even exist in Texas.” But the hunt exposed an uncertainty relatContinued from Page 1 ed to the evolving management of game. How do you classify an animal born behind a water trough on top of the mountain. He was high fence and then released onto a range? 26 yards away. I shot him with a bow. I had to David King, who publishes Hunting chase him and shoot him three more times. Illustrated and tracks trophy animals, said he He was a big animal. When we got through had doubts the giant elk was a true free-range quartering him and backpacked him out, it elk because of its size. was about one in the morning. It was a chal“You just don’t see many free-ranging elk lenge. He was a tremendous bull.” of that stature,” King said. The decision by Boone and Crockett offiKing said he talked to guide Chris cials surprised him, Urbanczyk said. Chopelas, who led Urbanczyk’s hunt. “I kinda thought they Chopelas told him that a would accept it,” he said. hole was found in the “They should. We have a elk’s ear where a tag bunch of free-ranging elk would go. He also said CF in Texas. We just don’t Ranch had released some have a season on them.” ranch bulls some seven A Boone and Crockett years before, King said. records official said Chopelas did not allowing the recording of return phone calls seekelk from Texas isn’t in ing comment by deadkeeping with the organiline. zation’s philosophy. He Classifying such a kill is added that an elk born difficult, King said. inside a high-fence area Groups such as Boone and released would not and Crockett only record qualify for a Boone and trophy animals they Crockett record anyway, deem shot under fairaccording to the official. — RONNIE URBANCZYK chase conditions. The largest typical elk “It’s a unique situation: recorded by the organizareleasing a high-fence tion was taken in 1968 in bull on a free range and Arizona’s White Mounseven years later it’s shot,” King said. “What tains at a score of 442 5/8 points. do you do?” Boone and Crockett’s rejection of what For his part, King questions recording such would have been the biggest elk on record kills. disturbs some Texans. “What it comes down to is it’s not even a “What hurts is that so many are behind a generation removed from the farm,” King high fence in Texas,” said Walt Isenhour, the said. Texas state chairman for the Rocky Urbanczyk, though, sees the kill as legitiMountain Elk Foundation. “Boone and mate. Crockett must think that they’re all behind a “A lot of people are raising whitetails and high fence.” turning them loose, introducing new genetIsenhour, on a hunting trip of his own, ics into the species,” he said. “It’s hard for me actually ran into Urbanczyk while he was to see that it’s OK on one side and not OK on hauling the giant elk home. the other side. The introduction of new “I’ve been around the elk foundation the genetics is everywhere. I don’t think that’s a last 16 years,” Isenhour said. “I go to Missoula good argument.” (Mont.) quite often. I don‘t know of a typical Rocky Mountain elk that outscores it. These Mark England is associate editor of Lone Star elk aren’t hunted with intensity they are in Outdoor News. Elk ‘We have a bunch of free-ranging elk in Texas. We just don’t have a season on them.’ Page 12 January 27, 2006 QUEST FOR QUAIL asing along the rolling hills of Fisher County, atop a Tennessee walking horse while hunting bobwhite quail is well, let’s just say, “Doing it in style!” Taz, Pro, Banjo and Joker carry their riders over the prickly pear, briars and red sandy soil, following the English setters: Patch and Dakota. The dogs zigzag out front, sniffing for their prey. The horses lumber on as the dogs run and run, then Patch slams on the brakes and turns his head upwind — looking directly into a clump of buffalo grass. Two hunters dismount and move quickly to the point. The others hold their horses’ reins. “No way,” says one of the hunters. “That is way too small (a clump of grass) to hold anything.” The shooters approach and a bird busts out. Two shots are fired. The shooter misses both. “I cannot believe there was a bird in there,” the shooter says. But Patch could! That is why he stopped. “No kidding. Look there,” another hunter says. About 70 yards upwind, the rest of the covey busts. They land in a big prickly pear patch, and the dogs are hot on their trail. The hunters remount, and everyone runs their horses the quarter-mile or so up the hill. “This time we got ’em,” one shouts. As the lathered-up horses guard one side, the dogs keep hard on point. The hunters are ready and the birds just can’t take it any longer. They start flushing in three’s and four’s. Shotguns blast: bam, bam. “Reload, reload!” Bam, bam. Birds hit the ground, dogs shake, the horses paw and the hunters smile. The horses carry the men to many more flushes. The dogs keep on hunting and finding coveys. The shooting is great. As the day wears on, the leather of the saddles squeaks to a rhythm and sweat soaks through your pants. Finally, it’s time for a break. The dogs need a rest, too, and find a comfortable place at the feet of their owners. E Story and photography by David J. Sams January 27, 2006 Page 13 PRODUCT PICKS PRESIDENTIAL APPEAL: The Henry Repeating Arms Company is releasing a deluxe limited edition of the Golden Boy rifle. It is modeled after one in the Smithsonian, which was presented to President Lincoln. The company’s award-winning Golden Boy rifle features period-style engraving, American walnut gunstock and an octagon barrel. An oval shape on both sides of the receiver has been left blank to allow for personal inscription. It sells for about $1,200. It is available in calibers: .22LR, .22 Magnum, .17HMR. For dealers or to request a free catalog, visit www. henry-guns.com or call (718) 499-5600. GET THE DOUBT OUT: The Potable Aqua Traveller Water Purification System combines the company’s popular tablets with a filter for added protection against waterborne cysts and bacteria. Each Traveller kit includes a oneliter water bottle and a 50-count container of Potable Aqua purification tablets and a filter, which can be used for as many as 350 times. The company says its product not only kills potentially harmful cysts and bacteria, but also eliminates unpleasant taste, color and odor from water. It costs about $40. For more information, visit www.potableaqua.com or call (800) 558-6614. FROM FIELD TO FEAST: Wild Harvest’s new “Wild Game Field Care and Cooking” DVD includes 225 minutes of recipes, cooking demonstrations and information compiled from three of its videos: “BIG GAME Butchering Field to Table,” “VENISON Cooking Healthy & Tasty” and “VENISON Aging, Smoking & Sausage Making.” The indexed DVD features step-bystep instruction by Milos Cihelka, a certified master chef and sportsman. It costs about $20, plus shipping, and can be ordered from www.wild harvestvideos.com or by calling (800) 819-3799. HYBRID TECHNOLOGY: The GMC Sierra Hybrid, which delivers the performance and capability expected of a full-size pickup, offers a little bit more. It promises up to 10 percent improvement in fuel economy. The battery is connected to a motor generator that provides auto stop and start. It also powers four electrical outlets in the back seat and cargo area. So in addition to the towing capability, copious cargo space and other qualities outdoorsmen have come to appreciate in their Sierras, now they can also use them to plug in their coffee makers before heading out to the field. The Sierra Hybrid ranges from about $27,000 to $33,000 depending on options. The 4WD models gets 17 miles per gallon in the city, 19 on the highway. For specifications, visit www.gm.com. BRAWNY BROADHEAD: For bowhunters who prefer a heavier broadhead, Muzzy has designed the Phantom SS. The new broadhead features a stainless steel ferrule. It weighs 200 grains without the bleeder blade and 220 grains with it. The company says the Phantom SS works well on large, dangerous game, such as the African cape buffalo, but it works even better on white-tailed deer. It costs about $26. To order, visit www.muzzy.com or call (866) 387-9307. LUMINESCENT TRAIL: BlueStar, a bloodrevealing reagent, allows hunters to track wounded game in the dark. Mix the BlueStar tablets with water, then spray on the ground and bushes where the game was last spotted. Any traces of blood will turn a fluorescent blue in darkness, even after it has rained. Monaco-based Roc Imports describes its product as safe for hunters and the environment. The BlueStar Hunting Kit costs $20, plus shipping. It comes with four tablets and a sprayer bottle that holds about 8 ounces. To purchase, call (877) 948-7827; for more information, visit www.rocimport.com/home.php. KILLING ZONE: Hips Targets’ freestanding Hips Vitals target features a prime-zone outline approximately the same shape, size and position of a deer’ s vital organs. This is for serious bowhunters who want to fine-tune their accuracy for clean kills. The Hips Vitals target can be shot with field points, fixed or expandable broadheads. The company says this target will stop arrows traveling in excess of 300 fps. The versatile target can be shot from all six sides and measures 18 by 13 by 13 inches. It costs about $53. To purchase, visit www.hipstargets.com. For more information, call (800) 979-0915. CHEW ON IT: Gum-O-Flage is a chewing gum designed to eliminate bad breath, reduce body odors and mask breath. According to Hunting Science, up to 80 percent of human odors escape the body from the chin up. This gum is formulated with such ingredients as antimicrobials, pine oil and chlorophyll. Available in original pine or alfalfa-honey flavors, it costs about $5 for a pack containing 12 pieces of gum. For retailers or to order, visit www.huntingscience. com or call (715) 627-7117. FLIP OUT: Plano Tackle Systems FlipSider line features the durability of a box coupled with the convenience of a bag. The molded section of the system houses 14 FlipSider compartments with depths ranging from 2.5 inches to 4 inches to hold a variety of lures. The hybrid box/bag has a large center compartment containing three Pro-Latch utility boxes and three roomy exterior pockets. The burnt orange and gray FlipSider measures 20.5 inches by 13.5 inches by 10.25 inches. It costs about $75. For retailers, visit www.plano molding.com or call (800) 226-9868. Page 14 January 27, 2006 HEROES Lucas Shelley Talash, 9, of Balch Springs shows the 10-point deer he took down at Cherokee. He was hunting with his uncle, Frankie Russell. Scott Watson, holds a 18-pound flathead catfish and Mike Stefanek holds a 27-pounder they caught while fishing for white bass on Richland Chambers. Share an adventure Jay Vaughn, 8, shows his first deer harvested in December during a spike/doe hunt at the James River Ranch near Harper. Jay was hunting with a 7.08 rifle he borrowed from his godfather. The next morning he shot the turkey, below, from 100 yards with the same rifle. Want to share your great hunting or fishing adventure with the Lone Star Outdoor News family? E-mail your photo, phone and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews. com, or mail to: Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX, 75243. Kimberly Hall of Wills Point shows a deer she took down at Fort McKavett. Kike Ramerez caught this 8-pound largemouth bass at Falcon Lake near Ramireno on New Year's Day. He used a watermelon red lizard while fishing from the bank. Bethany Berg, 13, of Dallas took this 170-class buck in Bosque County. Brownsville resident E.T. Hockaday shows a snook he caught at Boca Chica Beach east of Brownsville. MADE IN TEXAS Decade of work puts Gobbler Guillotine in flight By Mary Helen Aguirre Matthew Futture of Liberty Hill is a lifelong bowhunter whose prey of choice is the wild turkey. He describes himself as just a transplant from Vermont who said, “I don’t like the way we’re killing birds,” and set out to change it. His quest to achieve a more humane kill and complete pass-through inspired him to design the Gobbler Guillotine. Futture describes the razor-sharp, four-bladed, 4-inch by 4-inch broadhead as the fastest-killing broadhead in the world. The bowhunter aims the Gobbler Guillotine at the bird’s neck or head and if it Matthew Futture makes contact, usually completely and quickly severs its head. Futture unveiled the broadhead in January of 2003 at the Archery Trade Show in Indiana. “We had a huge resistance because it was so wild looking,” said Futture, owner of Arrowdynamic Solutions, a family business based in Liberty Hill. But people in the field tried it and generated a positive buzz through word of mouth. Cory Skalak of Becker, Minn., tried the Gobbler Guillotine in the Spring of 2004. “I was kind of skeptical about it. I wasn’t sure it was going to fly.” But Skalak said the first time he shot the broadhead, it delivered a flawless performance. “I was actually impressed with it. I’ve had great success with it,” he said, adding that he’s found it to be accurate up to 25 yards. “You either miss the turkey or you kill it instantly,” Skalak said. Now, entering its fourth year, Matthew and Cindy Futture’s home-based business is steadily growing, and the Gobbler Guillotine is sold in stores across the United States and in Mexico, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand and Africa. In addition to the Gobbler Guillotine, which is also available in a smaller 2-inch by 2-inch width, the company sells quivers and carbon arrows that are longer and designed to provide more resistance GOBBLER in the back. Last year, he started selling the Atom, which is designed for use GUILLOTINE on game such as deer, hogs and antelope. Some items, like the arrows, are made completely in-house, but the broadheads’ machine components are farmed out, then quality-checked, assembled and shipped out from Liberty Hill. Futture said he is a self-taught engineer, and it took him about a decade to design the Gobbler Guillotine. “It took me seven years just to figure out the aerodynamic issue,” said Futture. The tricky flight issues were resolved by covering the blades with an aerodynamic sheath that provides stability. Upon impact, the blade slices through the plastic sheath. Futture is happy to tout the benefits of his Gobbler Guillotine. He said it increases the killzone target area and provides a greater margin of error in shot placement. It decreases tracking time and bird loss. “Our recovery distance is measured in inches, “ he said. It virtually eliminates shaft loss and saves meat because hunters aim for the neck and head, he said. But, what Futture seems to be most proud of is that he’s engineered a product that gives archers the means to kill an animal fast. “I’m in it to promote the sport of archery and to promote an ethical sport,” he says. For more information, visit www.arrow-dynamic-solutions.com. January 27, 2006 Page 15 WEATHER MOON PHASES For up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, please visit www.accuweather.com Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2006 New Jan 29 SOLUNAR TABLE First Feb 5 Full Feb 12 Last Feb 21 TIDES High Sabine Pass 1/25 2:23 p.m. 1/26 3:05 p.m. 1/27 3:46 p.m. 1/28 4:22 p.m. 1/29 4:51 p.m. 1/30 12:58 a.m. 1/31 2:20 a.m. 2/1 3:51 a.m. 2/2 5:35 a.m. 2/3 7:34 a.m. 2/4 9:47 a.m. 2/5 11:58 a.m. 2/6 1:22 p.m. 2/7 2:20 p.m. 2/8 3:09 p.m. 2/9 3:52 p.m. 2/10 4:23 p.m. 2/11 4:36 p.m. 2/12 12:06 a.m. 2/13 1:00 a.m. 2/14 1:54 a.m. Port Bolivar 1/25 4:38 p.m. 1/26 5:20 p.m. 1/27 6:01 p.m. 1/28 12:21 a.m. 1/29 1:53 a.m. 1/30 3:13 a.m. 1/31 4:35 a.m. 2/1 6:06 a.m. 2/2 7:50 a.m. 2/3 9:49 a.m. 2/4 12:02 p.m. 2/5 2:13 p.m. 2/6 3:37 p.m. 2/7 4:35 p.m. 2/8 5:24 p.m. 2/9 6:07 p.m. 2/10 6:38 p.m. 2/11 1:23 a.m. 2/12 2:21 a.m. 2/13 3:15 a.m. 2/14 4:09 a.m. San Luis Pass 1/25 3:32 p.m. 1/26 4:14 p.m. 1/27 4:55 p.m. 1/28 5:31 p.m. 1/29 12:47 a.m. 1/30 2:07 a.m. 1/31 3:29 a.m. 2/1 5:00 a.m. 2/2 6:44 a.m. 2/3 8:43 a.m. 2/4 10:56 a.m. 2/5 1:07 p.m. 2/6 2:31 p.m. 2/7 3:29 p.m. 2/8 4:18 p.m. 2/9 5:01 p.m. 2/10 5:32 p.m. 2/11 12:17 a.m. 2/12 1:15 a.m. 2/13 2:09 a.m. 2/14 3:03 a.m. Low High Low 5:38 a.m. 6:29 a.m. 7:21 a.m. 8:14 a.m. 9:05 a.m. 9:56 a.m. 10:46 a.m. 11:35 a.m. 12:06 a.m. 1:16 a.m. 2:24 a.m. 3:29 a.m. 4:30 a.m. 5:30 a.m. 6:25 a.m. 7:16 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:38 a.m. 9:10 a.m. 9:38 a.m. 10:04 a.m. ——10:06 p.m. 11:38 p.m. —5:16 p.m. 5:36 p.m. 5:54 p.m. 6:09 p.m. 6:21 p.m. 6:21 p.m. —————11:08 p.m. —4:39 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:54 p.m. ——7:55 p.m. 8:10 p.m. 8:53 p.m. 9:50 p.m. 10:56 p.m. —12:28 p.m. 1:29 p.m. 3:25 p.m. —————9:14 p.m. 8:37 p.m. 8:50 p.m. 9:30 p.m. 10:16 p.m. 6:25 a.m. 7:16 a.m. 8:08 a.m. 9:01 a.m. 9:52 a.m. 10:43 a.m. 11:33 a.m. 12:22 p.m. 12:53 a.m. 2:03 a.m. 3:11 a.m. 4:16 a.m. 5:17 a.m. 6:17 a.m. 7:12 a.m. 8:03 a.m. 8:47 a.m. 9:25 a.m. 9:57 a.m. 10:25 a.m. 10:51 a.m. ———6:37 p.m. 7:06 p.m. 7:31 p.m. 7:51 p.m. 8:09 p.m. 8:24 p.m. 8:36 p.m. 8:36 p.m. ——————6:51 p.m. 6:54 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:09 p.m. ——8:42 p.m. 8:57 p.m. 9:40 p.m. 10:37 p.m. 11:43 p.m. —1:15 p.m. 2:16 p.m. 4:12 p.m. —————10:01 p.m. 9:24 p.m. 9:37 p.m. 10:17 p.m. 11:03 p.m. 6:07 a.m. 6:58 a.m. 7:50 a.m. 8:43 a.m. 9:34 a.m. 10:25 a.m. 11:15 a.m. 12:04 p.m. 12:35 a.m. 1:45 a.m. 2:53 a.m. 3:58 a.m. 4:59 a.m. 5:59 a.m. 6:54 a.m. 7:45 a.m. 8:29 a.m. 9:07 a.m. 9:39 a.m. 10:07 a.m. 10:33 a.m. ——11:15 p.m. —6:00 p.m. 6:25 p.m. 6:45 p.m. 7:03 p.m. 7:18 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. ——————5:45 p.m. 5:48 p.m. 5:54 p.m. 6:03 p.m. ——8:24 p.m. 8:39 p.m. 9:22 p.m. 10:19 p.m. 11:25 p.m. —12:57 p.m. 1:58 p.m. 3:54 p.m. —————9:43 p.m. 9:06 p.m. 9:19 p.m. 9:59 p.m. 10:45 p.m. High Freeport 1/25 2:24 p.m. 1/26 3:06 p.m. 1/27 3:47 p.m. 1/28 4:23 p.m. 1/29 4:52 p.m. 1/30 12:59 a.m. 1/31 2:21 a.m. 2/1 3:52 a.m. 2/2 5:36 a.m. 2/3 7:35 a.m. 2/4 9:48 a.m. 2/5 11:59 a.m. 2/6 1:23 p.m. 2/7 2:21 p.m. 2/8 3:10 p.m. 2/9 3:53 p.m. 2/10 4:24 p.m. 2/11 4:37 p.m. 2/12 12:07 a.m. 2/13 1:01 a.m. 2/14 1:55 a.m. Pass Cavallo 1/25 3:41 p.m. 1/26 4:23 p.m. 1/27 5:04 p.m. 1/28 5:40 p.m. 1/29 12:56 a.m. 1/30 2:16 a.m. 1/31 3:38 a.m. 2/1 5:09 a.m. 2/2 6:53 a.m. 2/3 8:52 a.m. 2/4 11:05 a.m. 2/5 1:16 p.m. 2/6 2:40 p.m. 2/7 3:38 p.m. 2/8 4:27 p.m. 2/9 5:10 p.m. 2/10 5:41 p.m. 2/11 12:26 a.m. 2/12 1:24 a.m. 2/13 2:18 a.m. 2/14 3:12 a.m. Port O’Connor 1/25 8:26 p.m. 1/26 9:24 p.m. 1/27 10:29 p.m. 1/28 11:44 p.m. 1/29 —1/30 1:13 a.m. 1/31 3:00 a.m. 2/1 4:59 a.m. 2/2 7:11 a.m. 2/3 10:20 a.m. 2/4 7:13 p.m. 2/5 7:16 p.m. 2/6 7:34 p.m. 2/7 8:03 p.m. 2/8 8:40 p.m. 2/9 9:22 p.m. 2/10 10:09 p.m. 2/11 11:04 p.m. 2/12 —2/13 12:30 a.m. 2/14 3:05 a.m. Low High Low 5:08 a.m. 5:59 a.m. 6:51 a.m. 7:44 a.m. 8:35 a.m. 9:26 a.m. 10:16 a.m. 11:05 a.m. 11:58 a.m. 12:46 a.m. 1:54 a.m. 2:59 a.m. 4:00 a.m. 5:00 a.m. 5:55 a.m. 6:46 a.m. 7:30 a.m. 8:08 a.m. 8:40 a.m. 9:08 a.m. 9:34 a.m. ——10:07 p.m. 11:39 p.m. —5:17 p.m. 5:37 p.m. 5:55 p.m. 6:10 p.m. 6:22 p.m. 6:22 p.m. —————11:09 p.m. —4:40 p.m. 4:46 p.m. 4:55 p.m. ——7:25 p.m. 7:40 p.m. 8:23 p.m. 9:20 p.m. 10:26 p.m. 11:36 p.m. —12:59 p.m. 2:55 p.m. —————8:44 p.m. 8:07 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:46 p.m. 4:56 a.m. 5:47 a.m. 6:39 a.m. 7:32 a.m. 8:23 a.m. 9:14 a.m. 10:04 a.m. 10:53 a.m. 11:46 a.m. 12:34 a.m. 1:42 a.m. 2:47 a.m. 3:48 a.m. 4:48 a.m. 5:43 a.m. 6:34 a.m. 7:18 a.m. 7:56 a.m. 8:28 a.m. 8:56 a.m. 9:22 a.m. ——11:24 p.m. —6:09 p.m. 6:34 p.m. 6:54 p.m. 7:12 p.m. 7:27 p.m. 7:39 p.m. 7:39 p.m. ——————5:54 p.m. 5:57 p.m. 6:03 p.m. 6:12 p.m. ——7:13 p.m. 7:28 p.m. 8:11 p.m. 9:08 p.m. 10:14 p.m. 11:24 p.m. —12:47 p.m. 2:43 p.m. —————8:32 p.m. 7:55 p.m. 8:08 p.m. 8:48 p.m. 9:34 p.m. 8:17 a.m. 9:17 a.m. 10:13 a.m. 11:06 a.m. 11:55 a.m. 12:39 p.m. 1:17 p.m. 1:47 p.m. 1:25 a.m. 2:57 a.m. 4:12 a.m. 5:23 a.m. 6:34 a.m. 7:45 a.m. 8:54 a.m. 9:56 a.m. 10:51 a.m. 11:39 a.m. 12:20 p.m. 12:56 p.m. 1:28 p.m. ———————9:18 p.m. 8:09 p.m. 7:31 p.m. ———————————- ————————2:01 p.m. 1:15 p.m. ———————————- High Corpus Christi 1/25 2:32 p.m. 1/26 3:14 p.m. 1/27 3:55 p.m. 1/28 4:31 p.m. 1/29 5:00 p.m. 1/30 1:07 a.m. 1/31 2:29 a.m. 2/1 4:00 a.m. 2/2 5:44 a.m. 2/3 7:43 a.m. 2/4 9:56 a.m. 2/5 12:07 p.m. 2/6 1:31 p.m. 2/7 2:29 p.m. 2/8 3:18 p.m. 2/9 4:01 p.m. 2/10 4:32 p.m. 2/11 4:45 p.m. 2/12 12:15 a.m. 2/13 1:09 a.m. 2/14 2:03 a.m. South Padre Island 1/25 3:17 p.m. 1/26 4:06 p.m. 1/27 4:54 p.m. 1/28 5:36 p.m. 1/29 6:06 p.m. 1/30 6:18 p.m. 1/31 1:01 a.m. 2/1 3:11 a.m. 2/2 5:16 a.m. 2/3 7:36 a.m. 2/4 10:25 a.m. 2/5 1:02 p.m. 2/6 2:15 p.m. 2/7 3:08 p.m. 2/8 3:57 p.m. 2/9 4:40 p.m. 2/10 5:18 p.m. 2/11 5:44 p.m. 2/12 5:57 p.m. 2/13 5:56 p.m. 2/14 1:07 a.m. Port Isabel 1/25 3:31 p.m. 1/26 4:13 p.m. 1/27 4:54 p.m. 1/28 5:30 p.m. 1/29 12:46 a.m. 1/30 2:06 a.m. 1/31 3:28 a.m. 2/1 4:59 a.m. 2/2 6:43 a.m. 2/3 8:42 a.m. 2/4 10:55 a.m. 2/5 1:06 p.m. 2/6 2:30 p.m. 2/7 3:28 p.m. 2/8 4:17 p.m. 2/9 5:00 p.m. 2/10 5:31 p.m. 2/11 12:16 a.m. 2/12 1:14 a.m. 2/13 2:08 a.m. 2/14 3:02 a.m. Low High Low 4:46 a.m. 5:37 a.m. 6:29 a.m. 7:22 a.m. 8:13 a.m. 9:04 a.m. 9:54 a.m. 10:43 a.m. 11:36 a.m. 12:24 a.m. 1:53 a.m. 2:37 a.m. 3:38 a.m. 4:38 a.m. 5:33 a.m. 6:24 a.m. 7:08 a.m. 7:46 a.m. 8:18 a.m. 8:46 a.m. 9:12 a.m. ——10:15 p.m. 11:47 p.m. —5:25 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 6:03 p.m. 6:18 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:09 p.m. —————11:17 p.m. —4:48 p.m. 4:33 p.m. 5:03 p.m. ——7:03 p.m. 7:18 p.m. 8:01 p.m. 8:58 p.m. 10:04 p.m. 11:14 p.m. —12:37 p.m. 2:33 p.m. —————8:22 p.m. 7:45 p.m. 7:58 p.m. 8:38 p.m. 9:24 p.m. 4:43 a.m. 5:39 a.m. 6:35 a.m. 7:30 a.m. 8:23 a.m. 9:15 a.m. 10:05 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 12:24 a.m. 1:18 a.m. 2:16 a.m. 3:17 a.m. 4:21 a.m. 5:24 a.m. 6:22 a.m. 7:15 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 8:39 a.m. 9:12 a.m. 9:42 a.m. ——————6:16 p.m. 6:04 p.m. 5:46 p.m. 5:19 p.m. 4:17 p.m. —————————5:44 p.m. —————10:43 p.m. 10:57 p.m. 11:36 p.m. —12:40 p.m. 2:05 p.m. ————————10:02 p.m. 10:15 p.m. 5:17 a.m. 6:08 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 7:53 a.m. 8:44 a.m. 9:35 a.m. 10:25 a.m. 11:14 a.m. 12:07 p.m. 12:55 a.m. 2:03 a.m. 3:08 a.m. 4:09 a.m. 5:09 a.m. 6:04 a.m. 6:55 a.m. 7:39 a.m. 8:17 a.m. 8:49 a.m. 9:17 a.m. 9:43 a.m. ——11:14 p.m. —5:59 p.m. 6:24 p.m. 6:44 p.m. 7:02 p.m. 7:17 p.m. 7:29 p.m. 7:29 p.m. ——————5:44 p.m. 5:47 p.m. 5:53 p.m. 6:02 p.m. ——7:34 p.m. 7:49 p.m. 8:32 p.m. 9:29 p.m. 10:35 p.m. 11:45 p.m. —1:08 p.m. 3:04 p.m. —————8:53 p.m. 8:16 p.m. 8:29 p.m. 9:09 p.m. 9:55 p.m. 1/25 1/26 1/27 1/28 1/29 1/30 1/31 2/1 2/2 2/3 2/4 2/5 2/6 2/7 2/8 2/9 2/10 2/11 2/12 2/13 2/14 Major/Minor periods: Houston Dallas 7:23a/1:09a 7:52p/1:38p 8:17a/2:01a 8:48p/2:32p 9:14a/2:58a 9:46p/3:30p 10:13a/3:57a 10:45p/4:29p 11:13a/4:58a 11:43p/5:28p 12:13p/5:58a ——/6:27p 12:45a/6:58a 1:11p/7:25p 1:44a/7:56a 2:09p/8:21p 2:40a/8:52a 3:04p/9:17p 3:34a/9:47a 3:59p/10:11p 4:27a/10:40a 4:52p/11:05p 5:18a/11:31a 5:44p/11:57p 6:08a/12:22p 6:35p/—— 6:58a/12:44a 7:24p/1:11p 7:46a/1:33a 8:13p/1:59p 8:34a/2:21a 9:00p/2:47p 9:20a/3:07a 9:45p/3:33p 10:05a/3:53a 10:29p/4:17p 10:49a/4:38a 11:12p/5:01p 11:33a/5:22a ——/5:43p 12:03a/6:06a 12:16p/6:26p San Antonio Amarillo 7:29a/1:15a 4:58p/11:11p 7:58p/1:44p 5:24a/11:37a 8:23a/2:07a 5:50p/—— 8:54p/2:38p 6:14a/12:03a 9:20a/3:04a 6:41p/12:28p 9:52p/3:36p 7:04a/12:50a 10:19a/4:03a 7:30p/1:17p 10:51p/4:35p 7:52a/1:39a 11:19a/5:04a 8:19p/2:05p 11:49p/5:34p7:18 p.m./2:27a 12:19p/6:04a 12:13p/2:53p ——/6:33p ——/3:13a 12:51a/7:04a 12:45a/3:39p 1:17p/7:31p 1:11p/3:59a 1:50a/8:02a 1:44a/4:23p 2:15p/8:27p 2:09p/4:44a 2:46a/8:58a 2:40a/5:07p 3:10p/9:23p 3:04p/5:28a 3:40a/9:53a 3:34a/5:49p 4:05p/10:17p 3:59p/6:12a 4:33a/10:46a 4:27a/6:32p SUN AND MOON Sunrise/set 1/25 1/26 1/27 1/28 1/29 1/30 1/31 2/1 2/2 2/3 2/4 2/5 2/6 2/7 2/8 2/9 2/10 2/11 2/12 2/13 2/14 Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 7:15a/5:52p 7:15a/5:53p 7:14a/5:54p 7:14a/5:55p 7:13a/5:56p 7:13a/5:57p 7:12a/5:58p 7:12a/5:59p 7:11a/5:59p 7:11a/6:00p 7:10a/6:01p 7:09a/6:02p 7:09a/6:03p 7:08a/6:04p 7:07a/6:04p 7:06a/6:05p 7:06a/6:06p 7:05a/6:07p 7:04a/6:08p 7:03a/6:08p 7:02a/6:09p 7:28a/5:54p 7:27a/5:55p 7:26a/5:56p 7:26a/5:57p 7:25a/5:58p 7:25a/5:58p 7:24a/5:59p 7:23a/6:00p 7:23a/6:01p 7:22a/6:02p 7:21a/6:03p 7:21a/6:04p 7:20a/6:05p 7:19a/6:06p 7:18a/6:07p 7:17a/6:08p 7:16a/6:09p 7:16a/6:10p 7:15a/6:11p 7:14a/6:11p 7:13a/6:12p 7:27a/6:06p 7:27a/6:07p 7:26a/6:07p 7:26a/6:08p 7:25a/6:09p 7:25a/6:10p 7:24a/6:11p 7:24a/6:12p 7:23a/6:13p 7:22a/6:13p 7:22a/6:14p 7:21a/6:15p 7:20a/6:16p 7:20a/6:17p 7:19a/6:17p 7:18a/6:18p 7:18a/6:19p 7:17a/6:20p 7:16a/6:21p 7:15a/6:21p 7:14a/6:22p 7:51a/6:08p 7:50a/6:09p 7:50a/6:10p 7:49a/6:11p 7:48a/6:12p 7:48a/6:13p 7:47a/6:14p 7:46a/6:15p 7:46a/6:16p 7:45a/6:17p 7:44a/6:18p 7:43a/6:19p 7:42a/6:20p 7:41a/6:21p 7:40a/6:22p 7:39a/6:23p 7:38a/6:24p 7:38a/6:25p 7:37a/6:26p 7:35a/6:27p 7:34a/6:28p Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 3:33a/1:41p 4:40a/2:39p 5:45a/3:47p 6:43a/5:00p 7:33a/6:15p 8:16a/7:29p 8:53a/8:39p 9:27a/9:46p 9:59a/10:52p 10:31a/11:57p 11:04a/none 11:42a/1:01a 12:23p/2:05a 1:10p/3:07a 2:02p/4:05a 2:58p/4:58a 3:56p/5:45a 4:54p/6:25a 5:50p/7:00a 10:31a/11:57p 7:39p/7:58a 3:49a/1:39p 4:57a/2:36p 6:01a/3:44p 6:59a/4:59p 7:47a/6:16p 8:28a/7:32p 9:03a/8:44p 9:34a/9:54p 10:04a/11:01p 10:34a/none 11:06a/12:08a 11:42a/1:14a 12:22p/2:20a 1:08p/3:23a 1:59p/4:22a 2:56p/5:15a 3:54p/6:00a 4:54p/6:39a 5:52p/7:12a 10:34a/none 7:44p/8:07a 3:45a/1:55p 4:52a/2:54p 5:56a/4:01p 6:55a/5:14p 7:45a/6:29p 8:28a/7:42p 9:05a/8:52p 9:39a/9:59p 10:12a/11:05p 10:44a/none 11:18a/12:09a 11:55a/1:13a 12:37p/2:17a 1:24p/3:19a 2:16p/4:17a 3:12p/5:10a 4:10p/5:56a 5:08p/6:37a 6:04p/7:12a 10:44a/none 7:52p/8:10a 4:16a/1:51p 5:25a/2:48p 6:29a/3:56p 7:25a/5:12p 8:12a/6:31p 8:51a/7:48p 9:24a/9:02p 9:54a/10:14p 10:22a/11:23p 10:51a/none 11:21a/12:31a 11:55a/1:39a 12:34p/2:46a 1:19p/3:50a 2:10p/4:50a 3:07p/5:42a 4:07p/6:27a 5:07p/7:05a 6:07p/7:37a 10:51a/none 8:02p/8:28a Moonrise/set 1/25 1/26 1/27 1/28 1/29 1/30 1/31 2/1 2/2 2/3 2/4 2/5 2/6 2/7 2/8 2/9 2/10 2/11 2/12 2/13 2/14 TEXAS TIDBITS TEXAS WORD TREASURES Across 1. These tasty bivalves must be 3-inches long to har vest 6. Purple paint on fence posts means ____ (two words) 7. Type of catfish (synonym politician) 10. Nickname for different types of sunfish 11. Odorless, colorless, dead ly gas 14. Fishing knot 16. In dry years, farmers burn off needles and feed these to cattle 17. Name of the new channel linking Corpus Christi Bay to Gulf 18. Hunting for this bird is best in Panhandle Down 2. TPW is considering elimi nating the red drum _____. 3. Pistol with the largest number of moving parts 4. Ground-dwelling rodent that lives in large colonies (pl.) 5. River which cuts across Panhandle 7. Snakes do this in the winter time 8. This animal's ability to 1 4 2 WILD IN THE KITCHEN Game bird appetizer 3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Copyright 2004 Texas Word Treasures, Greg Berlocher. All Rights Reserved. steal food from ice chests stored in camp is leg endary 9. Seed pods produced by conifer trees 12. Flying insect with a terri ble bite 13. Extended period without rain 15. Austin is in this county Looking for a good appetizer to kick off your next wild-game feed? This one takes a little time to prepare, but it’s worth the effort. Start by cutting the breast meat from one pheasant or ruffed grouse or two partridges into bite-sized chunks. Place the meat in a large Ziploc bag along with a marinade consisting of the following: • 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier • 2 tablesoons Chambord • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 teaspoons coriander seeds It isn’t necessary to buy two expensive bottles of liqueur in order to make this recipe. The Grand Marnier and Chambord can be purchased in miniature bottles. Marinate the meat for at least a couple hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator. To start the preparation, combine in a hot stainless steel or cast-iron skillet: • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1 shallot, finely chopped • game bird When the bird is almost cooked, deglaze the pan by pouring in the leftover marinade and stirring with a wooden spoon to incorporate the caramelized bits. Next, add to the skillet: • 2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons of carrot, finely diced • 2 tablespoons of celery, finely diced Cook for about a minute, then add: • 3/4 cup of heavy cream Allow the cream to reduce over medi- um heat until it gives off big bubbles, then season with: • Salt and fresh-ground pepper • 1 teaspoon coriander Place the contents in a food processor and pulse for just a second. You don’t want to turn the mixture into mush, just to chop the ingredients slightly. Spoon the mixture into a baked puff pastry, top with a bit of grated Parmesan cheese and place on a Teflon cookie sheet. Next, prepare the butter sauce. Combine in a stainless steel saucepan over medium heat: • 1 shallot, finely chopped • 1/2 cup white table wine • a few drops of fresh lemon juice • 1 tablespoon of honey When the wine has reduced to just a tablespoon or so, pour in half a cup of heavy cream. Allow the cream to reduce by half, then turn off the heat and quickly whisk in: • 2 sticks of cold unsalted butter, a couple pats at a time When the butter is emulsified, add: • 2 tablespoons of Chambord • salt and pepper to taste Strain the sauce to remove the shallots and store in a warm place. Pop the puff pastries into a 400degree oven until the Parmesan melts, place one pastry on each plate and drizzle a little of the sauce over the top and around the edges. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve. Recipe courtesy of Delta Waterfowl. For more recipes visit www.deltawaterfowl.org. Page 16 January 27, 2006 GAME WARDEN BLOTTER STEALTHY HUNTER FAKED OUT BY DEER AND WARDENS •Edwards County Game Warden Cody Hatfield, Real County Warden Shane Hohman, and Val Verde County Warden Jason Huebner set out a decoy deer in a good spot in Edwards County to see what they might attract. Shortly after midnight a vehicle stopped, and the driver got out and “put the Daniel Boone stalk on the decoy,” according to authorities. Warden Huebner teasingly wiggled the tail with the remote control and suddenly three shots rang out from a .357 Mag Colt Python. The decoy was hit three times but will live to work again. Charges filed. No restitution. FOR ONE BOY, IT MEANT THE WORLD Falls County Warden Travis Allen learned that a warden’s job has some great rewards other than just catching the bad guys and protecting the resources of Texas. On Dec. 22, he helped an 11-year-old boy go on a deer hunt that probably would have never happened under his current situation. The boy’s mother had died of cancer, and his father and brother had died in a car wreck. He was living with his grandparents and the grandfather had agreed TRAPPED BY THEIR OWN TRAP •Midland County Warden Terry Lloyd was contacted by Midland Sheriff’s Office Constable Choc Harris about a quail trap located in a dumpsite. Lloyd along with Wayne Armstrong of Howard County went to the reported site. Two people were questioned and one admitted to trapping quail. Cases pending. HUNTER DIDN’T GIVE A HOOT FOR THE LAW •Tarrant County Game Warden Michael McCall teamed up with Wise County Game Warden Chris Dowdy to interview a Wise County resident about his role in an illegal hunting incident that occurred in Tarrant County Dec. 23. During the interview, officers said the person admitted to hunting during closed season, waste of game and killing protected, non-game birds. The wardens seized the head of a 10point buck and the carcasses of a barred owl and a great-horned owl. The investigation continues and other charges are expected. TACKLE BOX CONTAINS UNUSUAL EQUIPMENT •Tarrant County Game Warden Michael McCall, while checking bank fishermen along the West Fork of the Trinity River, approached two young fishermen and found that neither had a fishing license. A closer inspection of their tackle box revealed a glass pipe with marijuana residue. The officer got permission to search their vehicle, where he reported that more paraphernalia was found. Citations for no fishing licenses and possession of drug paraphernalia were issued. KNOW YOUR DUCKS •Dallas County Warden Gary Miller and Rockwall County Warden Jenny Simpson responded to a tip regarding duck hunters using lead shot on a pond in South Dallas County. The wardens parked at the gate to the property and walked the half mile back to the pond. They saw two men trying to pull decoys in from the frozen pond water. The two men climbed into their truck and began to leave the field. Wardens Miller and Simpson checked the men’s hunting licenses and one duck they had in their possession. The men said that they had that the young man could hunt with Allen. First, Allen took the boy to shoot a rifle so he would be ready to hunt. Then he took him out that day on a friend’s lease, and although he did not get a deer the boy enjoyed the outing. When Allen told Bell County Warden Ronnie Langford about the boy’s hunting trip, they made a plan for another hunt. Langford and Allen brought the boy to a lease in Killeen, and he shot his first deer, a 4-point buck. a gadwall in the truck. Warden Miller explained that the duck was a pintail hen. The men then stated that they had four more ducks stuck on the pond. Miller found that there were three more pintails still on the water. After fishing out the ducks, citations were issued to each man for taking a pintail in a closed season, and civil restitution was ordered. DEER CARCASS COMES BACK TO HAUNT BOYS •Henderson County Game Warden Audie Hamm investigated a call about a deer carcass with the head cut off. Hamm located three young suspects. After questioning, the three admitted to shooting and dumping the deer. After they shot it, they were scared that their parents would find out so they discarded the deer. Cases pending. DEER CARCASS DUMPED IN SUBDIVISION •Polk County Game Warden Suzanne Baker received a call that a doe carcass had been dumped in the middle of a subdivision. After a lot of interviews, a 39-year-old female resident of the neighborhood confessed but said a friend cleaned the deer for her. She was cited for possession of untagged deer, and the friend was cited for illegal dumping. JINGLE, JINGLE ALL THE WAY TO JAIL •Briscoe County Game Warden Clint Hunt and his family were celebrating Christmas Eve when they had three uninvited guests show up at their home — and no it wasn’t Santa and his elves. One person knocked on the door and Hunt answered. Hunt was in plain clothes and his patrol vehicle was in the garage. The man at the door requested gas and money. Hunt smelled alcohol on the man’s breath. Hunt told the man he’d be outside in a minute with a can of gas. Hunt put on a pistol and a game warden jacket and he and his father-in-law went outside. Once outside, a second and third man got out of the vehicle. Hunt decided to tell them he was a peace officer. Two of the men got back into the vehicle, and one started the engine. Hunt told them to turn the vehicle off and get out. The men protested, telling Hunt that he couldn’t stop them. The officer told them that they stopped in his yard and that no one was going anywhere. It was obvious to Hunt that the three were intoxicated. Hunt had his father-inlaw retrieve his hand-held radio, and he called for back-up. One of the men was on parole with a long criminal record; the second also had a long criminal history; and the third had no history. Once the trooper arrived, the three were arrested for public intoxication. One suspect resisted arrest. The men were charges with offenses ranging from public intoxication to trespassing. Cases pending. LITTLE OYSTERS MEAN LOTS OF TROUBLE •Aransas County Game Warden Charles Mayer arrived at a local dock to check on loads of oysters being brought in. Mayer found one pallet of sacked oysters tagged and ready for market. Mayer saw that the oysters were very small. The captain of the boat that unloaded the oysters was nowhere to be found. Mayer contacted fellow Warden Jason Bussey for assistance. Mayer and Bussey counted the oysters and took good photographic evidence of the load and the captain’s tags that were attached to the sacks. Just as the wardens were finishing their count, the captain arrived and asked the wardens why his cargo needed to be looked at. Mayer obliged the captain with a citation for a 61-percent undersize load and a trip back to the bay to return the entire load. A LOONY EXPLANATION •San Patricio County Game Warden Sam Harris contacted a group of duck hunters who were a little nervous to show him what they had killed. Harris discovered a loon and two water turkeys in the game bag. The hunters said they were not sure what they had, but they knew it was duck season and these big black ducks flew by their duck blind. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Welcome to We Want to Deliver Our Newspaper to You! Lone Star Outdoor News Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper We’re publishing twice a month, so we can bring you the very best of the Texas outdoors from the Big Thicket to the Big Bend and from the Red River to the Rio Grande. And hunters and anglers by the score are sending us their thank-yous, comments and subscriptions. Every issue, we’ll bring you some of the state’s best outdoor photography and stories. You’ll read about big game hunting, waterfowling, upland bird hunting, freshwater fishing across the state and saltwater fishing all up and down the glorious Texas Coast. Plus, you’ll get national news… conservation updates… weather report… wild game and fish recipes… a custom crossword puzzle, and the latest breaking news from state and federal wildlife agencies. You won’t want to miss a single issue, so subscribe today! 24 ISSUES FOR $25 DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILBOX PLEASE FILL OUT PAYMENT INFORMATION BELOW NAME ADDRESS CITY ST. ZIP FOR ONE YEAR MAIL TO: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Ste. 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 FAX TO: (214) 368-0344 or For Fastest Service, Call Toll-Free at (866) 361-2276 SEND A SUBSCRIPTION TO A FRIEND: EMAIL PHONE NAME CC# MASTER CARD VISA AMERICAN EXPRESS ADDRESS EXP. SIGNATURE CITY ST. ZIP 012706 012706 January 27 2006 Page 17 OUTDOOR DATEBOOK 9800 for more information. HAVE AN EVENT TO PUBLICIZE? E-mail it to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com Events must be open to the public JAN. 26-29: San Antonio Boat Show at the Alamo Dome. The event will offer Sky Ranch Kids fishing adventure, Skeeter trailer, free seminars, bass aquarium and fishing demonstrations, 150 exhibitors, and 14 local boat dealers. The weekend times are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 27-29: The Dallas Safari Club’s annual convention at Dallas Market Hall. The Dallas Safari Club touts its annual convention as the South’s largest international adventure exposition with more than 700 exhibits from Alaska to Zimbabwe. It includes spectacular wildlife displays, celebrity guests, live entertainment, banquets and live and silent auctions featuring the finest global adventures, art and equipment for the sportsman and sportswoman. The event will include seminars by hunting greats such as “Mr. Whitetail” Larry Weishuhn and big-game hunter Craig T. Boddington, who will speak on leopard hunting. Both men will give presentations on Friday and Saturday during the convention. The event is open to the public and parking is free. Admission is $15 per day, $25 for two days and $35 for three days. Visit www.biggame.org or call (972) 980- number (903) 657-5790 or e-mail him at rinstine@pandai. com. Jan. 28: Texas State Turkey Calling Contest, Bass Pro Shops, Katy. The winner qualifies for the Grand Nationals in Nashville for 2007. Calling starts at 2 p.m. For more information, e-mail Bob Linder at rlinderhaus@aol.com or call him at (713) 621-0505. Feb. 3: Borger DU dinner at the country club. This event is one of the top dinners in the Texas Panhandle with lots of prizes and games. It’s a possible sellout, so don’t wait to get your tickets. Contact Heather Darbonne at (806) 274-3228 or e-mail jwhite@ducks.org. Jan. 28: Linden/Atlanta DU dinner at the Atlanta Country Club. DU members are invited to enjoy the closing weekend of duck season. Contact: John Kirkland; Brian Cave at (903) 756-3392, (903) 8462115 or e-mail ythomas@ducks.org. February: Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Trout Harvest in Athens. Every Tuesday through Sunday. Catch and keep trout from our fishing pond. Equipment and bait provided, no fishing license required and no size limit. Times are 9 a.m.4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday; $5 fee for up to five fish per person. The regular entrance fees apply; call (903) 676-Bass. Feb. 2: Chaparral WMA — 8th Annual Prescribed Burning Seminar. Topics are geared toward private landowners and include rules for prescribed burning in Texas, planning a burn and conducting it safely, the role of summer fire, prescribed burning associations in managing invasive woody plants and other topics. Weather permitting, a burn will be conducted and a tour of previous burns on the WMA and range plant identification will be given. Registration fee of $10 includes lunch; pre-registration required by Jan. 30. Call (830) 676-3413 for more information. Feb. 3: Rusk Co./Henderson DU dinner at the National Guard Armory. Contact: Ronald Ellis at phone Feb. 4: East Texas Nation DU Volunteer Appreciation Day, National Guard Armory-Henderson, 600 Sands Ave. at the Lake Forest Park entrance. This event is to honor all East Texas DU volunteers. Activities will include national raffle packages with prizes such as a Yamaha 4wheeler and a War-Eagle boat and trailer. One of the packages from No. 1 to No. 87 will be given away for our location in Henderson. You must be present to win the national prize packages. Find more information and register online at www.ducks.org. Contact Yazoo Thomas at (936) 368-7263 or ythomas@ducks.org. Feb. 4: South Texas National DU Volunteer Appreciation Day at Cabela’s in Buda. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. in the upstairs Whitetail Conference Room. There is no cost to attend this event. Food and beverages will be provided, courtesy of Cabela’s. Our activities will include national raffle packages. One of the packages from #11 to #87 will be given away for our location at Cabela’s. You must be present to win the national prize packages. Contact Todd Willingham at (830) 624-7913 or twillingham@ducks.org. Feb. 4: North Texas National Volunteer Appreciation Day in Grapevine at the Lancaster Theater, 300 South Main St. Doors will open around noon, with a live broadcast at 1 p.m. The event is free and food and beverages will be provided. National prize packages will be given away. Contact Jim Lillis for more information at (903) 8919011 or jlillis@ducks.org. Feb. 4: Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Basic Fishing Clinic in Beaumont. This clinic will give families a chance to learn the basics of fishing, including knot tying, casting, safety, regulations and more. Held at Gander Mountain, 5855 Eastex Freeway. Class size limited to 25; available to ages 10 and above; parents must accompany children; times are from 1-4 p.m.; registration required; contact Mary Davis at (409) 866-0490. Feb. 4: The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens will host another in a series of fly-fishing clinics from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The class is open to adults 18 and older. No fly-fishing experience is required. Equipment will be provided, but students may bring their own. The $50 fee includes entrance to TFFC for the day of the class, lunch and a season pass to TFFC so students can return for more fishing as often as they like. Reservations are required, and the class is limited to 20. To register call Barry St. Clair at (903) 6702222. Feb. 4: Basic Fishing Instructor Course in Brownsville. This free class will provide participants with hands-on activities, instructional materials and access to equipment to teach youth and adults basic fishing skills. Held at the University of Texas at Brownsville. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a O Y S T E R S P CROSSWORD PUZZLE SOLUTION FROM PAGE 15 C A E N O T R E S P A S S A N H A R D H E A D R I I D A B R E A M I I N G V O L V E C E D A C A R B O N M O N O X N I D E P I O O N A G S N T E T R R O C A C T U S P A D V G I H P A C D sack lunch and drink. Class size is limited; 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; preregistration required. Contact Dr. Rey Ramirez at Reynaldo.Ramirez @utb.edu or (956) 882-8979. Feb. 4: Coleto Creek Reservoir and Park angler education instructor course. Free workshop open to those 17 or older interested in teaching the basics of fishing. The program provides the curriculum, equipment, materials and support to help volunteers introduce youth and families to fishing. Time is 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; preregistration required, contact Charles Schons at cfschons@ awesomenet.net or (361) 575-8600. Feb. 4: Mexica DU banquet. Contact Ivan Jackson, Jr. at (254) 562-7117 or e-mail him at westernauto @glade.net. Feb. 4: Bastrop County DU dinner. Contact David Long at (512) 3033376 or e-mail him at dlong@ dwhomes.com. Feb. 4-5: Chaparral WMA — YouthOnly Javelina Hunt. Youth must be accompanied by adult, but only youth may hunt; no fee is charged. Permits issued by drawing; standby applicants must be present by 10 a.m. first day of hunt. Call (830) 676-3413 for more information. Feb. 5-8: Kickapoo Cavern SP sched-uled hunts, 10 p.m. Feb. 5 to 2 p.m. Feb. 8; call (830) 563-2342. Feb. 9: Jasper DU dinner at the Jasper VFW. Auction to include guns, prints and decoys. Contact Ryan Powell, Reagen Clotiaux at (936) 671-0171or 409-384-7005. Feb. 11: Jefferson DU dinner at the FFW Hall. Contact Richard Kale at (903) 938-8202 or e-mail him at gstone@marshallpd.com. Looking for a story or photo from a past edition of the Lone Star Outdoor News? LOOK ON THE WEB R H C O P A L O M A R N E S S E F L K E R Y www.lonestaroutdoornews.com P H E A S A N T OUTFITTERS Offshore and Bay fishing 30' Stamas 21' Shallowsport Duck, Goose and Dove Hunting 40,000 Acres Capt. Scott Hickman 3218 Coral Ridge Ct. League City, TX 77573 (281) 535-1930 Fax: (281) 535-1935 www.circleh.org South Texas Deer and Turkey Hunting 10,000 Acres OUTFITTERS, HUNTING GUIDES AND FISHING GUIDES: Want to profile your business? It’s easy to advertise on this page — just send us your business card, and let us know how many weeks you want your ad to run. Purchase 12 issues of advertising and your business will be profiled with a photo in the outfitter ad section. Let all our readers know about you. 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Lohse Real Estate, Inc. (956) 761-6699. Page 18 January 27, 2006 FISHING REPORT CENTRAL BASTROP: Water stained. Black bass are fair on white spinnerbaits and shallow diving crankbaits over grass. Crappie are fair on minnows and small green tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on punchbait and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow. BELTON: Water murky; 69 degrees; 3.01' low. Black bass are fair on white/silver Rat-L-Traps and deep diving crankbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on minnows and watermelon red striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait and chicken livers. Yellow catfish are slow. BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.45' low. Black bass to 6 pounds are good on black/blue StrikeWorks jigs, white spinnerbaits, and plum apple Zoom worms in the main lake, and 200 series Alabama Shad colored Persuader Stealth shad crankbaits on main lake flats. Hybrid striper to 7 pounds are excellent on 300 series Alabama shad colored Persuader crankbaits under lights at dawn. White bass are fair on small tube jigs and Li'l Fishies at night under lights. Crappie are fair on small tube jigs and minnows in 12 - 18 feet. Catfish are slow. BUCHANAN: Water clear; 51 degrees; 7.50' low. Black bass are slow to fair on motor oil Devil's Tongues on drop shot rigs, watermelon/red Carolina rigged Snap Back creature baits, and JDC Craws on jigheads along ledges and secondary creek points in 12 - 25 feet. Striped bass are good trolling white/chartreuse striper jigs, swimming Snap Back jerkbaits on RED Bait Jerker hooks, jigging silver Perk Minnows, and drifting live bait along the main river channel up the lake from The Willows. White bass are slow to fair on 2” Spoiler Shads, jigging 1/8oz. Tiny Traps, and Perk Minnows on the outside of main lake creek points in 20 - 30 feet. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are slow CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 52 degrees; 2.49' low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged 6” green/pumpkin Scoundrel worms, pumpkin Snap Back lizards, and creature baits in submerged timber on main lake points in 10 - 25 feet. Striped bass are fair on 3” Spoiler Shads and vertically jigging Perk Minnows from Comal Park down the lake. White bass are fair jigging Pirk Minnows, Tiny Traps, and Li'l Georges in 20 - 30 foot channels. Smallmouth bass are good on 3” smoke JDC Craws and brown hair jigs with pork strip trailers over rock piles and along deep-water ledges. Crappie are fair but mostly small on minnows at the fishing dock. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are slow. COLEMAN: Water clear; 49 degrees; 2.08' low. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow. COLORADO RIVER: (At Colorado Bend State Park) Water murky. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on white/green spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps. White bass are good on silver and white striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Catfish are slow. DUNLAP/MCQUEENY: Water murky; 58 degrees. Black bass are good on crawdad colored Storm Wiggle Warts, Fred Arbogast Mud-Bugs, Black Oldham's Jigs with Reaction Innovations black miniskirts, Texas rigged 7.5” Red Shad Berkley Power Worms, and 3” Black Power Craws under docks near the channel in 10 - 15 feet. White bass are excellent on live minnows and 1/8oz. White Curb's Crappie jigs at night under green lights in 8 - 20 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on cut shad, dead shad, and nightcrawlers in swift water upriver at the powerhouse, and in front of the Ski Lodge in 10 - 15 feet. Yellow catfish are slow. FAYETTE: Water clear; 64 degrees. Black bass are good on white and white/chartreuse spinnerbaits and wacky worms over grass in 3 - 8 feet. Channel and blue catfish are very good on stinkbait and peeled shrimp dipped in attractant on ridges over baited holes in 12 - 16 feet. GRANBURY: Water stained; 0.49' low. Black bass are fair on silver and white Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and silver striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. Catfish are good on liver, frozen shrimp, and stinkbait. GRANGER: Water murky; 52 degrees; 0.17' low. Black bass are slow. White bass are fair on white twister tail jigs up the river among shad. Crappie are fair on jigs in deep-water brush piles. Blue catfish are good on fresh shad in the Friendship Park area. Yellow catfish are slow. LBJ: Water stained to clear; 52 degrees. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged watermelon/red Craw Tubes, black/blue _oz. Terminator Pro Series jigs with pork trailers, and 5” JDC Craws over brushpiles and laydowns in 6 - 12 feet. Striped bass are fair early on Spoiler Shads and soft jerkbaits on RED Bait Jerker hooks along channel turns and creek points. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows under heated/enclosed boat docks. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are slow. NAVARRO MILLS: Water fairly clear; 4.07' low. Black bass are fair on yellow/white spinnerbaits and crankbaits. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and chicken livers. Yellow catfish are slow. PROCTOR: Water stained; 46 degrees; 5.24' low. Black bass are fair on white/pink/salmon deep diving crankbaits and jigs. Striped bass are good deep on white jigs with trailers. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are fair on stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and shad. Yellow catfish are slow. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 3.07' low. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on shad and silver Rat-L-Traps in 5 - 7 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow. STILLHOUSE: Water clear; 56 degrees; 0.86' low. Black bass are good on watermelon seed and pumpkinseed crankbaits. White bass are slow. Smallmouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows at night. Channel and blue catfish are fair on hot dogs, shrimp, and minnows. Carp are good on corn. Yellow catfish are slow. TRAVIS: Water clear; 57 degrees; 17.20' low. Black bass to 3.5 pounds are good on green pumpkin tubes and chrome Radar 13 crankbaits in 12 - 30 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass to 1 pound are fair on CC spoons and minnows in 22 - 35 feet. Crappie to 12” are fair on minnows and roadrunner jigs in 14 27 feet. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow. WALTER E. LONG: Water clear; 60 degrees. Black bass are good on Black Salty baitfish. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on minnows and white spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and punchbait. Yellow catfish are slow. WHITNEY: Water clear; 5.97' low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on pumpkinseed and watermelon seed striper jigs and live bait. White bass are fair on minnows and silver jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on stinkbait, minnows, and nightcrawlers. NORTHEAST ATHENS: Water clear, 48-52 degrees; 2.77' low. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and red Rat-L-Traps in 8-10 feet. Bream are fair on live worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on prepared baits. BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 49-52 degrees; 6.04' low. Black bass are fair on watermelon/red Brush Hogs fished in 6-8 feet. White bass are fair on small jigging spoons in the major creek channels. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows fished around man-made brushpiles in 18 - 23 feet. Catfish are good on chicken livers fished around cormorant roost. CADDO: Water fairly clear; 52-58 degrees; 1.23 low. Black bass are fair to good on black/blue jigs and white spinnerbait fished around trees in 3-5 feet. Crappie are good on white/pink head 1/16 oz. jigs fished on the edges of the main channel. Catfish are fair on limb lines with cut bait. CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 50-54 degrees; 4.75' low. White bass are good on jigging spoons. Hybrid striper are good on Sassy Shad under the birds. Catfish are good on cut bait and Danny King's Punch Bait. jigs. Catfish are fair to good on prepared baits and Black Salty baitfish. FAIRFIELD: Water clear; 69-80 degrees. Black bass are good on white Senkos and Pop-R's fished above the grass on secondary points, later switching to Carolina-rigged junebug lizards fished off the edges of the grass in 5 - 9 feet. Hybrid striper are slow on white/chartreuse TailHummers and live shad on main lake points. Redfish are slow on CP Special TailHummers and live shad in the inlet cove and around the dam. Catfish are fair on prepared baits and live shad on main lake flats. FORK: Water clear; 48-50 degrees; 4.33' low. Black bass are slow along the main lake grass lines on _ oz. crawdad or red with chartreuse belly Rat-L-Traps and firetiger spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows in 24-26 feet on deeper flats. Catfish are good on prepared baits and Black Salty baitfish in 26-30 feet. RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 49-55 degrees; 4.34' low. Black bass are fair on chrome Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged black/blue worms. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows and jigs in the marinas and around bridge columns. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs over humps. Catfish are fair on prepared baits. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 50-55 degrees; 3.68' low. Black bass are slow to fair on chrome or shad medium diving crankbaits, black/blue jigs and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in and around the marina in the empty boat slips. White bass are good on jigging spoons in 30 - 35 feet on main lake shelves close to deep water, near the points. Catfish are slow. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; 49-54 degrees; 5.33' low. Black bass are slow to fair on crankbaits and jigs. White bass are fair to good on white or chartreuse slabs and TailHummers. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs in 18-24 feet around brush piles. Catfish are fair drift fishing shad in 12-20 feet. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 50-54 degrees; 8.41' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows around pylons. White bass are fair to good on white or chartreuse slabs fished close to bottom on humps and ridges. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on 4” Sassy Shad and slabs. Catfish are good on shad and prepared baits. TEXOMA: Water clear; 49-54 degrees; 2.76' low. Black bass are fair on jigs and soft plastics fished around boat slips. Smallmouth bass are fair on crawfish pattern crankbaits and jigging spoons around vertical rock structure. Crappie are fair on minnows around boathouses. Striped bass are slow to fair on live shad, slabs and Sassy Shad. Blue catfish are fair on cut shad and prepared baits. WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 49-52 degrees; 7' low. Black bass are fair. Crappie are good in the fishing barge and marina boat slips on white head/chartreuse body/orange tail jigs and minnows. Catfish are slow. White bass are poor. Bream are good on worms. The new boat ramp is open, but with the low water level boaters are advised to exercise caution. AMISTAD: Water fairly clear; 56 degrees. Black bass are good on watermelon seed red heavy jigs on drop shot rigs. Striped bass are good on silver slabs and silver/red striper jigs up the Rio Grande. White bass are good on silver slabs and silver/white striper jigs up the Rio Grande. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are slow. BRAUNIG: Water stained; 88 degrees. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on chicken livers on the bottom, and down rigging spoons in 15 - 25 feet. Redfish are fair on perch and tilapia on the bottom, and down rigging spoons in 15 - 25 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on liver, shrimp, and shad. Yellow catfish are slow. JOE POOL: Water stained; 50-54 degrees; 3.86' low. Black bass are fair on watermelon/red flake and junebug Carolina-rigged worms. Crappie are fair on minnows over brushpiles and around bridge pilings in 25 feet. White bass are fair on chrome or chartreuse slabs, jigging spoons and pearl TailHummers. Catfish are good on cut shad drifted next to creek channels. LAKE O' THE PINES: Water stained; 49-53 degrees; 4.37' low. Black bass are fair on jigging spoons and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in 20-25 feet (fishermen keep first 25 crappie, regardless of size, December thru February). Yellow bass are good on minnows and jigs in 35 feet. Blue catfish are fair on trotlines with goldfish and shiners. COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 63 degrees (76 degrees at hot water discharge); 2.69' low. Black bass are excellent on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics in 8 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch in 12 feet. Yellow catfish are slow. LAVON: Water stained; 49-55 degrees; 10.05' low. Black bass are slow to fair on Carolina rigged watermelon candy Brush Hogs and brown/orange crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on Road Runners and slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait. FALCON: Water lightly stained; 63 degrees. Black bass are good on watermelon red and red bug soft plastic worms, and chartreuse/white spinnerbaits. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cutbait, stinkbait, and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow. Mexican fishing licenses and boat permits are required to fish in Mexican waters. Everyone in the boat must have a Mexico Fishing License whether fishing or not. LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 50-54 degrees; 7.58' low. Black bass are slow on suspending rogues, spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on brown/blue jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on liver and cut shad in the creeks along bends and humps. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 57 degrees mid lake 80 degrees at the hot water discharge; 5.94' low. Black bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits and black neon worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on bloodbait. MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 50-54 degrees; 0.46' low. Black bass are fair to good on Carolina and drop shot rigged sour grape or watermelon/chartreuse french fries in 16 - 22 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and CONROE: Water stained; 3.63' low. Black bass are fair on blue/white spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat-LTraps. Striped bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are good on minnows and green tube jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp. GIBBONS CREEK: Water stained. Black bass are fair on watermelon seed soft plastic worms, lizards, and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue/red tube jigs. Catfish are fair on shrimp, minnows, and stinkbait. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 56 degrees; 0.14' high. Black bass are fair on sour grape Trick worms east of the marina in 5 - 10 feet. Crappie are fair on live minnows near the spillway on the bottom in 28 feet. Catfish are slow. LIVINGSTON: Water murky; 53 degrees; 4.22' low. Black bass to 3.5 pounds are good on black/blue crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are very good on cutbait and prepared baits. Yellow catfish are slow. SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 64 degrees; 4.70' low. Black bass are good on watermelon red and watermelon seed spinnerbaits and soft plastic worms over grass and brush. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs. TOLEDO BEND: Water clear; 65 degrees; 8.82' low. Black bass are good on pumpkinseed Rat-L-Traps and crankbaits, watermelon seed soft plastic lizards, and crawfish colored crankbaits over grass and in creeks. Crappie are good on live minnows over brush and grass in 15 - 20 feet. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, shrimp, and chicken livers. PANHANDLE BAYLOR: Water lightly stained; 51 degrees. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. GREENBELT: Water lightly stained; 41 degrees; 21.35' low. Black bass are fair on jigs and Carolina-rigged watermelon soft plastics along main lake points in afternoon. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on live bait. Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait. Walleye are fair on live bait and jerkbaits. Catfish are fair on chicken liver. MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 40 degrees; 67' low. Black bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass and striped bass are good on live bait. Smallmouth bass are fair. Walleye are good on minnows and bottom bouncers. Catfish are fair on cut shad. MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 43 degrees; 24.5' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on live bait near rocky points. Smallmouth bass are fair on jerkbaits and live bait. Walleye are fair on bottom bouncers and live bait. Channel catfish are fair. PALO DURO: Water lightly stained; 39 degrees; 42.75' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Smallmouth bass are fair. Walleye are slow fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on prepared baits. WEST CALAVERAS: Water stained; 86 degrees. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on chicken livers and silver spoons near the dam. Redfish are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are good on liver, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Blue catfish are fair on liver and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 55 degrees; 3.16' low. Black bass to 9 pounds are good on white/yellow Nichols spinnerbaits with matching blades, black/blue flake 10" YUM Rib Worms, and green pumpkin/purple and watermelon blue fleck 7" YUM Zellamander lizards on Falcon weighted hooks in backs of coves, along rocky ledges in the main lake, and upriver in 2 - 8 feet. White bass are good vertically jigging chartreuse Berkley Blade Dancers, Bomber slabs, and white jigs tipped with live minnows at night around main lake points, at the mouth of the river, and around the Hwy. 99 bridge in 5 - 10 feet. Crappie are fair on chartreuse Curb's crappie jigs tipped with live minnows over brushpiles and standing timber in 6 - 15 feet. Channel and blue catfish to 6 pounds are fair on Lewis King punchbait, large minnows, and Black Salty baitfish in 10 - 20 feet. Yellow catfish to 20 pounds are fair on trotlines and juglines baited with hybrid bluegills and Black Salty baitfish. GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 52-57 degrees; 6.98' low. Black bass are fair on shad pattern or chartreuse crankbaits, gold/orange jerkbaits, drop shot rigs and Rayburn red lipless crankbaits. Spotted bass are fair on jerkbaits along the dam. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in deep water. White bass are good on yellow or white slabs and tail-kickers fished under the birds and around the aerator. Catfish are fair on cut bait. striper are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad. SOUTHEAST PALESTINE: Water clear; 49-54 degrees; 3.45' low. Black bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps and chartreuse spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on prepared baits and cut shad. White bass are fair on slabs and Rat-L-Traps. Hybrid striper are fair on shad and Sassy Shad. SOUTH COOPER: Water stained; 49-52 degrees; 12.02' low. Black bass are slow on jigging spoons and black/blue jigs. Crappie are slow on brush piles and standing timber in 10-18 feet on minnows. White bass are slow. Catfish are fair to good along creek channels on prepared baits. Due to the low level of the lake, boaters are advised to use extreme caution. very good on juglines baited with perch and goldfish. MEDINA: Water stained; 54 degrees; 10.86' low. Black bass to 4 pounds are fair on drop shot rigged watermelon red flake Zoom Super Fluke Jr's, magic craw red Reaction Innovations Flirts, and crawfish jigs with matching trailers along main lake points in 10 - 20 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are very good vertically jigging chrome/blue Pirk minnows and live minnows in backs of coves, and on chrome/blue shad raps and gay blades upriver. Crappie are good on live minnows and white crappie jigs around brushpiles and standing timber at night under lights in 10 - 25 feet. Channel and blue catfish to 6 pounds are fair on Lewis King punchbait, shrimp dipped in chicken blood, and Black Salty baitfish. Yellow catfish to 20 pounds are ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 44 degrees. Black bass are fair on black/chartreuse jigs fished tight to cover. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 51 degrees; 1.9' low. Black bass are slow on spinnerbaits in back of coves and creeks. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs near derricks about 17' and at Henrietta Bridge, Deer Creek and State Park. White bass are fair on shad-imitation baits east of State Park and at mouth of Sailboat Cove. Blue catfish are good on cut shad, prepared baits and juglines on upper end of lake near cormorant roost sites. COLORADO CITY: Water clear; 58 degrees. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair. Redfish are slow. Catfish are fair. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 56 degrees; 4.55' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair. Catfish are fair. HUBBARD CREEK: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; 9.5' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass and hybrid striper are fair. Catfish are fair on live bait. NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live bait. Redfish are fair. White bass and striped bass are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on live bait and punch bait. OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 18.65' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on worms and chicken liver. No boat ramps open. 4x4 vehicles can unload on the dirt road near the dam. OH. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 16.65' low. Black bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on live bait. Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait. Channel catfish are slow. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 53 degrees; 3.5' low. Black bass are fair in Rock Creek area. White bass are good in Bluff Creek and Neely's Slough. Striped bass are fair near piers in Willow Beach area. Blue and channel catfish are fair in the upper part of reservoir. Rainbow Trout are good below the dam near Highway 16 Bridge with another release of 2,250 on January 6. SPENCE: Water lightly stained; 53 degrees; 45.55' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair. Striped bass and hybrid STAMFORD: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White and striped bass are fair. Catfish are fair on chicken liver. SWEETWATER: Water lightly stained; 47 degrees; 31.7' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair. Catfish are fair. WHITE RIVER: Water lightly stained; 46 degrees; 22.65' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Walleye are fair. Channel catfish are fair on live bait. WICHITA: Water muddy; 51 degrees; .5' low. Crappie are slow. White bass and hybrid striped bass are fair on large minnows and white twister-tails along dam, near spillway and trolling. Channel catfish are fair on bait shrimp, punch bait or trotlines. COASTAL NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good while drifting scattered shell in the middle of the lake on glow Sand Eels, Bass Assassins and Trout Killers. Redfish are good around the warm water discharge on shrimp and gold spoons. SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good on the Reef on glow, plum, red shad and black Sand Eels, Bass Assassins and Trout Killers. Trout, croakers, sand trout and black drum are fair to good at the causeway at night on live shrimp and DOA Shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout, redfish and flounder are fair in the marsh cuts on mud minnows and shrimp. Redfish, black drum and whiting are fair in the surf on shrimp and cut mullet. TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair to good drifting shell in 3-5 feet of water on limetreuse, plum, bone and red shad Trout Killers, Red Killers, Bass Assassins and Sand Eels. Redfish, black drum, croaker and flounder are fair to good on shrimp in the cuts and at the Spillway. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on midbay reefs on live shrimp and under a popping cork and glow and plum Hogies, Red Killers, Bass Assassins and Sand Eels. Whiting, redfish and black drum are good along the jetty on fresh dead shrimp. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on glow, pumpkinseed and red shad Bass Assassins, Sand Eels and Trout Killers around Meacom's and Green's Cut. Trout are fair to good while wading mud bottoms on MirrOlures and Corkies. TEXAS CITY: Whiting, sand trout, black drum and sheepshead are fair to good on fresh dead shrimp from the dike. Redfish and black drum are fair on crabs and mullet at the jetty. FREEPORT: Redfish and black drum are fair to good at San Luis Pass, the mouth of the New River, the Boilers and Christmas Bay on finger mullet and shrimp. Whiting are good in the surf on shrimp. EAST MATAGORDA: Trout are fair to good over shell and along the mud shorelines on Corkies and fire tiger, red shad and glow Bass Assassins, Red Killers, Sand Eels and Trout Killers. Redfish and black drum are fair to good on the reefs on live shrimp under a popping cork. MATAGORDA: Trout are fair to good while drifting deep shell on fire tiger, pumpkinseed and red shad Sand Eels, Red Killers and Bass Assassins. Redfish are fair to good in the Diversion Channel on shrimp and mullet. Trout are fair to good at night in the Colorado River on tandem- rigged DOA Shrimp and glow beetles. PORT O'CONNOR: Trout are fair to good on the shell reefs in San Antonio and Espiritu Santo Bay on glow/chartreuse and plum Trout Killers, Red Killers, Bass Assassins and Sand Eels. Whiting, redfish, black drum and sheepshead are fair to good on shrimp at the jetty. ROCKPORT: Trout and redfish are fair to good on limetreuse and bone Trout Killers, Bass Assassins, Norton Sand Eels and shrimp around Traylor Island and Mud Island. Redfish are fair to good on the Estes Flats on shrimp and She Dogs. PORT ARANSAS: Sheepshead and trout are good off the jetty on live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish and whiting are fair to good in the surf on peeled shrimp. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good while drifting scattered shell in Nueces Bay on glow, plum, black and red shad Trout Killers, Bass Assassins and Sand Eels. Redfish and black drum are fair on crabs and mullet in the holes. BAFFIN BAY: Trout and redfish are fair to good while drifting the grass beds adjacent to the Intracoastal on glow, plum and red shad Trout Killers, Bass Assassins and Sand Eels. Trout are fair to good at Yarborough and Rocky Slough on Corkies, MirrOlures and glow soft plastics. PORT MANSFIELD: Trout and redfish are fair to good while drifting grass beds on bone or glow Red Killers, Bass Assassins and Sand Eels. Trout are fair to good at night in the Land Cut on DOA Shrimp and glow Bass Assassins. SOUTH PADRE: Redfish are fair to good on gold spoons over grass beds adjacent to the Intracoastal. Trout are fair on the ledges of the Intracoastal on live shrimp and DOA Shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good at Unnecessary Island on plum and glow Red Killers and Bass Assassins. Redfish, black drum and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and mullet. Advertisement SPORTS TECH NEWS — 2006 New lure’s catch rate may be too high for some tournaments. Out-fishes other bait 19 to 4 in one contest. Uses aerospace technology to mimic a real fish. ORLANDO, FL— A small company in Connecticut has developed a new lure that mimics the motion of a real fish so realistically eight professionals couldn’t tell the difference between it and a live shad when it “swam” toward them on retrieval. The design eliminates wobbling, angled swimming and other unnatural motions that problem other hard bait lures. It by Charlie Allen swims upright and appears to propel itself with its tail. Curiously, the company may have designed it too well. Tournament fishermen who have used it said it’s possible officials will not allow it in contests where live bait is prohibited. They claim it swims more realistically than anything they have ever seen. If so, that would hurt the company’s promotional efforts. Winning tournaments is an important part of marketing a new lure. Fish would probably prefer to see it restricted. I watched eight veteran fishermen test the new lure (called The KickTail®) on a lake outside Orlando FL for about four hours. Four used the KickTail and four used a combination of their favorite lures and shiners (live bait). The four using the KickTail caught 41 fish versus 14 for the other four. In one boat the KickTail won 19 to 4. The KickTail also caught bigger fish, which suggests it triggers larger, less aggressive fish to strike. You can see why the company needs to get it into tournaments. An almost 3 to 1 advantage can mean thousands of dollars to a fisherman, and hundreds of thousands in sales to the company. The KickTail’s magic comes from a patented technology that breaks the tail into five segments. As water rushes by on retrieval, a little-known principle called aeronautical flutter causes the tail to wag left and right, as if the lure were propelling itself with its tail. Unlike other hard baits, the head remains stationary—only the tail wags. A company spokesman told me this. “Fish attack live things, and they determine if something is alive by watching its moveInventor Scott ments. Wilson lands a Marine 10-pounder. biologists will tell you that the more a lure swims like a real fish, the more fish it will catch. Well, the only live thing the KickTail doesn’t do is breathe. It’s better than live bait! It lasts longer and it never hangs half-dead from a hook. It’s always swimming wild and free. Fish can’t stand it. We’ve seen fish that have just eaten go for the KickTail. It’s like having another potato chip. Swims with its tail. Increases catch almost 3 to 1. “To make the KickTail even more lifelike, we gave it a natural shad color and shaped it like the most prevalent bait fish of all, the threadfin. Game fish gobble up more threadfin shad than any other baitfish. “We knew the New lure swims like a real fish--nearly triples catch in KickTail would out- Florida contest. fish other lures. It had to. Other lures wobble their heads and swim on an crank bait that let’s you do tricks or chocolate shad (great for overangle. But 41 fish to 14? That’s like ‘walk the dog.’ Twitch it at cast days). One set costs $19.90; huge! I tell you, in ten seconds deep levels and it gives an irre- both cost $39.80. There is also a anyone who has fished a day in sistible, lifelike action. Other Super-10-Pack of five floaters his life knows this little swim- lures ‘dig.’ And there’s no need and five divers that includes these mer’s a home run. Fishermen for rattles. The five tail segments colors and three others for only reserved thousands of KickTails click together as you pull it $79.95. You save $19.55! S/h is before we produced it! Here, reel through the water, calling fish only $6.00 no matter how many it in and watch it swim toward from a distance.” you order. you. Can you tell the difference Whether you fish for fun or To order call 1-800-873-4415 between it and a live fish? (I said profit, if you want a near 3 to 1 or click www.ngcsports.com no.) Neither can the fish. advantage, I would order now anytime or day or send a check or “The flutter technology also before the KickTail becomes M.O. (or cc number and exp. allows the KickTail to swim at the known. The company even guar- date) to NGC Sports (Dept. KXwater’s surface. Other top water antees a refund, if you don’t catch 92), 60 Church Street, Yalesville, lures must be worked to have any more fish and return the lures CT 06492. CT add sales tax. The live action, or have a bill that within 30 days. The lures come in KickTail is four inches long and makes them dive on retrieval. Our sets of two, a floater and a diver. works in salt and fresh water. diver version is the only deep You can choose natural shad KX-1 © NGC Worldwide, Inc. 2006 Dept. 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